BRITS POS – MOOINOOI - The integrated “Vala Umgodi” operation aims to counter illegal mining activities and this led to the arrest of 13 suspects between Thursday, 19 and Friday, 20 September, in Mooinooi.
All 13 suspects were nabbed for contravention of Section 49 (1)(a) of the Immigration Act, (Act No. 13 of 2002) and appeared before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
In another incident reported in Stilfontein on Thursday, 19 September, police were allegedly called to a local mine shaft, after mine security reported that they apprehended illegal miners on level 10. Six illegal miners were found and on searching the suspects, seven pieces of Almagum (Gold) were found, hidden in the dread locks of one of the suspects.
In another arrest on Friday, 20 September, police were called back to the same shaft in Stilfontein, where six more illegal miners were found on level 14. During the search, a back pack was found with more Almagum inside. All 12 Stilfontein suspects were nabbed for contravention of Section 49 (1)(a) of the Immigration Act, (Act No. 13 of 2002) and for illegal mining and appeared before the local Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 23 September.
