Mashatile defends JCPS strategy as MPs question failures in illegal mining

Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Picture: X /@GovernmentZA Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) committee will now be taking a more proactive, intelligence-driven approach to deal with illegal mining. Addressing the National Council of Provinces (Ncop) during a question-and-answer session in parliament on Thursday, Mashatile concurred that policing has been reactive rather than proactive.

This was in response to EFF MP Mothusi Montwedi, who told the deputy president that he must agree that he is part of a reactive government that failed to proactively deal with acts of criminality but instead replies to wrongdoing with “expensive commissions”. Earlier in the session, Mashatile mentioned the government was intensifying intelligence-driven operations under initiatives such as Operation Vala Umgodi. Motswedi said intelligence-led interventions only gained momentum after hundreds of families were forcibly displaced by armed syndicates on the West Rand, despite numerous early warnings from residents.

“You said you are intensifying intelligence-led systems, now I want to find out; deputy president, can you specifically explain why?” Montwedi asked. “And why have you not tabled a full forensic assessment on the collapse of early warning intelligence systems in the Gauteng mining belt?” In January, hundreds of residents fled theSporong informal settlementon the West Rand after illegal mining gangs infiltrated the area. The residents left the comfort of their homes behind and sought refuge at a community hall in Randfontein to escape the violence.

[paywall]

Responding to Montwedi, Mashatile – who is also the chairperson of the JCPS – said the committee will be addressing the “weaknesses of the past”. “I’m sure you’ll agree with me, or let me say I agree with you as well, that there’s nothing that beats intelligence-driven… because you’re not shooting in the dark. You know what you’re dealing with. You know where the problem is, and you can act timelessly,” Mashatile said.

[/paywall]