RUSTENBURG HERALD - NORTH WEST - The SAP's multidisciplinary and crime intelligence driven "Vala Umgodi" operations conducted between Friday, 16 February and Tuesday, 20 February, by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, National Intervention Unit (NIU), Special Task Force (STF), Tactical Response Team (TRT), Public Order Police (POP), South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Airwing, Mounted Unit, Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), K9, Visible Policing and Mine security, pounced on 71 illegal immigrants and eight illegal miners in Hebron and Rustenburg respectively.
In Hebron, five illegal miners, all men between the ages of 18 and 40 were arrested on Friday afternoon, 16 February after information was followed up resulting in the discovery of an illegal wash plant at Bangladesh section. Lovemore Sithole (40), John Sithole (34), Shadrack Mhlanga (32), Lazarus Sithole (20) and Matthew Sithole (18) appeared before the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates’ court on Monday, 19 February and were remanded in custody until their next court appearance before the same court on 5 March. Equipment as well as gold bearing material were confiscated by the police (see attached photos).
In a second operation conducted on Tuesday, 20 February in Kroondal, Rustenburg, 71 Illegal immigrants (21 men and 50 females) were arrested as well as three illegal miners (all men) between the ages of 18 and 54. They all, who are foreign nationals from Lesotho and Mozambique appeared before the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 22 February.
At least 16 illegal immigrants were found guilty for contravening Section (41) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002) and sentenced to a fine of R3 000. Only four could pay the fine and the other 12 remained in custody, whilst one immigrant was deported. Furthermore 54 illegal immigrants were remanded in custody until their next court appearances before the same court between 26 February 2024 and 6 March 2024. The three men, charged with illegal mining, Poncho Motlalepula (26), Petros Mosia (41) and Andries Madire (44) were remanded in custody until their next court appearance on Thursday, 29 February 2024.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena commended the team for their dedication which resulted in the arrests and seizures, which he said will serve as a warning that the police, working with other stakeholders, will leave no stone unturned in dealing with illicit mining.
