Two suspected illegal miners killed in hours-long gun battle with police in Carltonville
Police seized two AK47s, two pistols, and ammunition after a two-hour shootout with illegal miners.
Image: Supplied
Two suspected illegal miners were killed in Carletonville on Sunday during a gun battle with the South African Police Service (SAPS) that lasted around two hours.
The operation, led by the National Intervention Unit (NIU) and Gauteng Public Order Police, was launched after police received intelligence that the men were in possession of a large number of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Police arrived at a targeted house at about 4am. When the suspects tried to escape by jumping out of windows, they opened fire on officers, triggering a prolonged confrontation.
The suspects were found in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Image: Supplied
“A prolonged exchange of gunfire, estimated to have lasted about two hours, ensued between the suspects and the police,” SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.
The two men were pronounced dead at the scene. Officers seized two AK47 rifles, two pistols, and ammunition. No police officers were injured during the exchange.
Brigadier Mathe described the suspects, who were identified as Basotho nationals, as extremely dangerous. “They showed no hesitation in engaging the police,” she said.
Police are continuing to monitor the area to apprehend other suspects who fled into nearby bushes.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenge of illegal mining in South Africa. Estimates suggest that between 5% and 30% of the country’s gold output is mined and traded illegally, often bypassing regulatory oversight. Illegal mining is concentrated in abandoned or under-regulated shafts in Gauteng, North West, and Free State, and involves both small-scale miners and organised syndicates.