Lentswe, Klerksdorp - Twenty-four illegal miners aged between the ages of 17 and 44 years old were arrested at the Scott and Margaret Shaft in Stilfontein last week.
According to Lt Col Tinyiko Mathebula, police spokesperson, the arrests on Wednesday April 10 were part of a takedown operation conducted by the Klerksdorp Hawks, in collaboration with the Provincial Explosives Unit, Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Illicit Mining Task Team, Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), the ala Umgodi deployment team, Harmony Gold and ER 24.
During the operation, mining equipment, a motor vehicle, gold bearing material, cellular phones, explosives and medication were seized.
“The suspects who are South African, Mozambican, Zimbabwean and Lesotho nationals are facing charges of illegal mining, conspiracy to commit a crime; theft of gold as well as being illegal immigrants.’’
They were expected to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrates’ Court this week.
Major General Patrick Mbotho, the North West Head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, welcomed the arrests and lauded the team’s efforts in clamping down on illegal mining.
