RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - The ongoing Vala Umgodi operations continue to deal effectively with illicit mining and related crimes in the Bojanala Platinum District.
This comes after the Vala Umgodi deployment confiscated two excavators and several other illegal mining equipment that were found abandoned at Bapong illegal mining site in the policing precinct of Mogwase on Thursday, 20 March.
The operation further led to the arrest of 10 individuals for contravention of Section 49 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act, 2002, in Geelhoutpark, Rustenburg. The suspects who are Zimbabwean and Malawian foreign nationals, appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrates' Court on Monday, 24 March.
In Freedom Park near Phokeng, the team nabbed 12 undocumented foreign nationals from Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi between Thursday, 20 and Friday, 21 March. All the suspects were due to appear in the Bafokeng Magistrates' Court in Tlhabane on Monday, 24 March.
In Mogwase policing area, nine undocumented foreign nationals were arrested between Friday, 21 and Saturday, 22 March, in Moruleng. Furthermore, the operational team confiscated illegal mining equipment at Witrandjie illegal mining site.
In Schamburg near Hartbeespoortdam, the team confiscated abandoned penduka machines and steel balls.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng thanked the members for their continuous efforts in the enforcement of the law.
