Lentswe, Stilfontein - Two groups of illegal miners appeared in the local magistrate’s court to face the long arm of the law. The police also confiscated various good destined for zama-zamas.
Eighteen illegal miners were sentenced in the Stilfontein Magistrates’ Court to 120 days imprisonment on Friday February 9, for contravening the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act.
In addition, all Lesotho foreign nationals were each sentenced to R5 000 or 60 days imprisonment after being found guilty for being in the country illegally. The court further ordered that all Lesotho foreign nationals be deported.
“The accused, 15 Lesotho nationals and three South Africans aged between 19 and 53, were arrested in September 2023, in Stilfontein for illegal mining and contravention of the Immigration Act,” said Lt-Col Amanda Funani, police spokespserson.
In a separate case, 14 illegal miners including nine Lesotho nationals and five Mozambicans, were also sentenced to 120 days in jail. The five Mozambicans were individually sentenced to R5 000 or 60 days imprisonment for being in the country illegally.
All of them were arrested in November 2023 in Stilfontein.
Over the past weekend , the Hawks assisted by Stilfontein SAPS and the Dr KK District Illicit Mining Task Team and National Intervention Unit, confiscated large quantities of goods destined for illegal miners underground.
The team received information regarding a storage facility, which was used to pack and wrap foodstuffs in Goud Street.
According to Lt Col Funani a search was conducted at the facility and goods that included packets of maize meal, canned beef, cooking oil, custard, canned fish, snacks, soya mince, washing powder,
paraffin, diesel, beer and rolls of plastic sheeting were seized. The goods are estimated to be worth R482 000.
“An enquiry was registered for further investigation. The goods were found and seized approximately 300 metres from Scott Shaft where previous operations led to the seizure of 29 firearms, gold, foodstuffs and other illegal mining paraphernalia,” she said.
