South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa called a key meeting with representatives from many ministerial departments on Saturday to discuss the growing problem of illicit mining in the nation's Gauteng province.
The area has been dealing with widespread illicit mining, which has increased national concern and caused unrest in nearby villages, a news outlet has stated.
Recent tragedies such as a gas leak that killed 17 people in Guateng's Boksburg and a conflict between opposing illegal miners' gangs (known in South Africa as zama zama) that left five dead in Riverlea have highlighted the urgent need for concerted action to stop this threat.
During the buildup discussion that was held on Friday, Police Minister Bheki Cele stressed the need for an integrated strategy combining law enforcement, correctional services, home affairs, and social development to successfully address the issue, the Moroccan news agency reported.
The minister reiterated Ramaphosa's dissatisfaction with patchwork solutions and demanded an all-encompassing effort from the relevant agencies, such as mineral resources and local governments, to solve the underlying issues behind unlawful mining and safeguard the environment.
Additionally, Cele urged neighboring nations to cooperate with South Africa in its fight against illegal mining.