25 Aug 2026

The administration of rights to exploit minerals including sand is governed primarily by the Mines and Minerals Act Cap 66:01. 

Responding to a question in Parliament, the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo said the Act gave powers to the authorised officers to take action against any person who contravened or otherwise does not mine in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

 She said the recent coming into force of the Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Act, 2024, which was enacted in October 2025, had brought revised punitive measures and fees to deter those who were tempted to undertake illegal mining. 

Ms Kenewendo said the effort of curbing illegal sand mining was a multi-stakeholder endeavour, therefore the Ministry of Minerals and Energy alongside other stakeholders critical to this excise continued to conduct random adhoc inspections and joint inspections to deter illegal sand mining. 

She said other efforts undertaken included promotion of sourcing river sand from licensed sources and encouraging the use of alternatives to river sand as substitutes for construction material. Minister Kenewendo said together with all relevant stakeholders, the ministry remained committed to implementation of the amended Mines and Minerals Act, including the forfeiture of the equipment found to have been used in the illegal mining. She said the forfeited equipment would be disposed through the government’s setout legal disposal route for the full benefit to the nation, including the immediate affected communities. 

Mmopane/Metsimotlhabe legislator, Ms Helen Manyeneng had asked the minister to state measures put in place to curb illegal sand mining. 

She also wanted to know whether such measures included confiscation of vehicles upon conviction of offenders, and if so, would there be consideration to auction such vehicles with a portion of the proceeds being channelled towards environmental rehabilitation and development of affected communities. ends