BONUS - RUSTENBURG - During an operation conducted by the Vala Umgodi team in the Bojanala district 91 suspects involved in illegal mining were arrested from 13 to 19 May.
According to Brig Sabata Mokgwabone, provincial police spokesperson, the suspects were arrested in Kroondal, Geelhout Park and in the Rustenburg policing and Tlhabane precincts as well as at Skeerpoort, Moonooi and Hartbeespoort in the Bojanala 1 district and in Tlhatlaganyane, Ledig and Mabele-A-Podi villages policed by Sun City and Mogwase Police Stations.
77 out the 91 arrested suspects are from Lesotho, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, who, in addition to being charged with mining without the necessary permits, are also charged with contravening Section 49(1) of the Immigration Act, 13 of 2002, while the remaining 14, South Africans, are charged with mining illegally. The team confiscated equipment used to mine illegally - including 16 petrol / diesel generators, hammers and jack hammers, shovels, electric extension cords, grease pumps and self-made sifting contraptions (commonly referred to as Pendukas) as well as steel balls. The suspects were expected to appear before the Mogwase, Brits, Tlhabane and Rustenburg Magistrates’ Courts.
