JMPD and Hawks Dismantle Illegal Gold Refinery Linked to Zama Zama Syndicates in Booysens

Joburg police have arrested Zama Zama.

by Mathipa Phishego

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the Hawks, working alongside two private security firms, have dismantled a clandestine gold refinery in Booysens, Johannesburg, allegedly linked to Zama Zama syndicates.

The joint operation was led by the JMPD K-9 Unit in collaboration with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and private security partners, following weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance.

According to authorities, the raided facility while legally registered to process precious metals—was found to be illegally refining gold-bearing material sourced from illegal mining operations, in clear violation of the Precious Metals Act.

“This joint operation sends a clear message the JMPD, alongside the Hawks, is aggressively targeting the entire value chain of illegal mining. “We are not just focusing on the individuals underground, but on the sophisticated, illegitimate infrastructure like this refinery that enables illegal miners to operate,” said Acting Chief of Police Eldred Fortein.

Four suspects were arrested at the scene two men and a woman identified as suspected illegal miners, as well as the male manager of the refinery. They face charges of possession and dealing in precious metals and bribery, after allegedly attempting to pay officers R20,000 for their release.

Authorities seized gold-bearing material and processed gold estimated at a street value of R1 million. The refinery has been shut down pending further investigations.

The arrests mark another step in the city’s broader crackdown on illegal mining syndicates, which have been blamed for economic losses, violent turf wars, and environmental destruction across Gauteng. “We will continue to disrupt these criminal networks that threaten the safety and economic stability of our city,” Fortein added.

The suspects are expected to appear in court soon, while the JMPD and Hawks continue their coordinated efforts to root out criminal enterprises fuelling the illegal gold trade in the Johannesburg metropolitan area.