Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - More than 16 ton of gold bearing material was seized in a police operation at the Klerksdorp landfill site last week.
The value of this cache is estimated to be approximately R240 000. On Wednesday March 27, a team comprising of various SAPS units including “Vala Umgodi” deployment group, SANDF soldiers, the Hawks, officials from the Department of Home Affairs, Matlosana Local Traffic and Harmony Gold Mine Security, cordoned off the landfill site.
According to Lt Col Amanda Funani, the search culminated in the arrest of 44 undocumented foreign nationals. There were 35 from Lesotho, five from Zimbabwe, three from Mozambique and one from Malawi.
“Of the arrested suspects, two were held for unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of suspected stolen property, while the third one was held for unlawful possession of ammunition. The team also seized two firearms, 157 empty cartridges, ammunition, eight small rolls of copper cables and two cell phones.’’
The suspects were due to appear in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court this week.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, thanked all role players for their collaborative efforts that led to the arrests and seizures.
