Honourable Members,   Since the announcement in the State of the Nation Address on the 12th of February 2026, Operation Prosper has achieved tangible and measurable progress in combating illegal mining.   Joint operations by the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force under Operation Prosper have disrupted illegal mining in the Free State, Gauteng and North West through high-visibility policing, vehicle checkpoints and air support.   These operations have resulted in arrests, the dismantling of illegal mining sites and the confiscation of firearms, explosives and illegal mining equipment.   Through interdepartmental coordination with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the joint deployment has resulted in the arrest of 1,080 individuals, among them armed suspects and undocumented miners.   During these targeted operations, the deployment seized 19 firearms, over 2,000 rounds of ammunition and 41 commercial explosives.   In addition, it has seized 83 generators, over 1,000 refining drums, nearly 2,000 kilograms of gold-bearing material and approximately 150 kilograms of gold.   These actions have disrupted the operational and financial lifelines of illegal mining networks.   To prevent the resurgence of these activities, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has closed many illegal shafts, with further closures planned.   The South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force continue to secure these locations through ongoing foot patrols, vehicle checkpoints and air-to-ground monitoring. #RamaphosaQandA(Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦)