DStv Channel 403 Monday, 16 February 2026
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IN PICS |Armed with spades and buckets, residents hunt for gold in springs

Monday 16 February 2026 - 19:00pm
A woman grimaces as she is helped to load a sack of soil on her shoulder in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A woman grimaces as she is helped to load a sack of soil on her shoulder in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

The hunt for gold

A woman grimaces as she is helped to load a sack of soil on her shoulder in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A woman grimaces as she is helped to load a sack of soil on her shoulder in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

Artisanal miners pan for gold in a hold dug in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

Artisanal miners pan for gold in a hold dug in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A woman balances a bucket full of soil as artisanal miners digging holes look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A woman balances a bucket full of soil as artisanal miners digging holes look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A man carries a bucket full of soil as artisanal miners digging holes look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A man carries a bucket full of soil as artisanal miners digging holes look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A woman carries on her back a sack filled with soil as artisanal miners digging holes look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A woman carries on her back a sack filled with soil as artisanal miners digging holes look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A man carries an empty bucket in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A man carries an empty bucket in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A man digs using a spade in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A man digs using a spade in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

This aerial view shows artisanal miners digging holes as they look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

This aerial view shows artisanal miners digging holes as they look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

A woman grimaces as she is helped to load a sack of soil on her shoulder in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.
Artisanal miners pan for gold in a hold dug in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.
A woman balances a bucket full of soil as artisanal miners digging holes look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.
A man carries a bucket full of soil as artisanal miners digging holes look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.
A woman carries on her back a sack filled with soil as artisanal miners digging holes look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.
A man carries an empty bucket in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.
A man digs using a spade in a patch of land where artisanal miners look for gold outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.
This aerial view shows artisanal miners digging holes as they look for gold in a patch of land outside Springs, Ekurhuleni, on February 15, 2026.

SRPINGS, Gauteng - Dozens of people have descended on a private property in Springs, digging for gold.

Residents began flocking to the site after it was alleged that someone had found seven grams of gold.

This triggered a gold rush.

Men and women with spades and buckets have been digging in hopes of finding gold. 

One woman said she arrived at the site on Wednesday after hearing that others around the area were already digging. 

READ | Illegal miners occupy abandoned West Rand school

She claims she managed to get gold but sold it to make money and buy food for her children. 

Another woman claimed she would be selling one gram for R175 to locals in the area. 

Althoug many are aware that the activity is illegal, they said they are driven by unemployment. 

 

Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Phakamile Mbengashe, warned that the illegal digging is damaging the environment and national economy.

He said they are yet to establish the extent of damage once the site has been cleared, and engineers are deployed. 

READ | SONA 2026 | SANDF to support police in fight against illegal mining and gangs

The authorities will also have to determine the costs of closing off the holes, he added. 

Mbengashe said they also have to verify the claims that gold exists at the site.

Members of the SAPS are expected to be deployed into the area to investigate the site. 

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