Gold Fever Hits Springs as Locals Continue Digging for Gold Following Rumoured Discovery
- Residents of Springs in the East Rand are digging for gold after rumours of discovery in local soil
- The cattle kraal site was transformed into a makeshift mine by hundreds of hopeful diggers
- The landowners allegedly allowed people to dig and remove soil believed to contain gold for R20
Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.
Source: Twitter
GAUTENG, EAST RAND - Residents of Payneville in the Gugulethu section of Springs on the East Rand are continuing to dig up a private cattle kraal in search of what they believe are gold deposits beneath the surface.
Gold particles in the soil
According to EWN, the rush began last Monday, 16 February 2026, after rumours spread that a community member had discovered gold particles in the soil. Word of the alleged find circulated quickly, drawing hundreds of people armed with spades to the plot, which is roughly the size of two soccer fields. What was once grazing land now resembles a small-scale mine. Dozens of holes scar the ground. At least 30 people were already on site early in the morning, with larger crowds expected as the day progresses.
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Residents told Sowetan that the landowners initially allowed people to dig and remove soil believed to contain gold for R20. As numbers increased, the fee reportedly rose to R50. Some diggers load buckets of soil onto bakkies and transport them to a nearby river to sift through sediment for traces of gold. Several participants claimed they had sold recovered particles for as much as R3,000 at a time, although this could not be independently verified.
Community members gave conflicting accounts of the land's history. Some alleged it was an old mine dump, while others claimed it lay above a disused sewer line. Reporters observed cattle near the excavated area, indicating the site remains in use as a kraal. Residents said high unemployment in the area has fuelled the digging, with many viewing it as a rare opportunity to earn a quick income.
Source: Twitter
Similar stories by Briefly News
Briefly News previously reported that excitement erupted in Payneville, Springs, after reports of gold-bearing soil surfaced in the Gugulethu Section near the Krall Esibayeni cattle kraal. Residents gathered with tools and began digging, hoping to uncover valuable deposits. The alleged discovery sparked comparisons to South Africa’s historic gold rush era.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) remain on high alert in Bapong, North West, where illegal mining operations continue to plague the community. Officers have already arrested 13 illegal miners in the past two weeks, with some zama zamas believed to be underground.
Rare blue diamond worth R660 million unearthed in SA
Briefly News also reported that a rare blue diamond discovered at the Cullinan Mine reminded many of South Africa’s deep-rooted place in the global diamond industry.
The stone’s rarity and potential value sparked renewed interest at a time when lab-grown diamonds continue to disrupt traditional markets.
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Source: Briefly News
