Since 1999, the scale and intensity of illegal mining has only increased. Judge Jake Moloi pointed out in a judgement in March 2014 that: "There is no law regulating the illegal mining activities. The most the State can charge the illegal miners with is Trespass and Theft or Attempted Theft as in our case." In an unusual intervention, Judge Moloi called on Parliament "to enact a law that will have harsh punishment for illegal [mining] activities which are assuming horrendous proportions."