BONUS - ZINNIAVILLE/LEDIG/RUSTENBURG - A total of 38 males were arrested for various crimes in and around Rustenburg, in ongoing Vala Umgodi operations in the Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 2.
The suspects were arrested after being linked to transgressions such as the contravention of Section 49(1)(a) of the Immigration Act,2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002), possession of drugs and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Information received led the team to the Ledig settlement, near Sun City on Sunday morning, 6 April, just after 10:00. The team arrested 13 men between the ages of 18 and 43 and confiscated a generator, battery and jack hammer. Later the same afternoon, a 41-year-old Nigerian male was arrested by the team in the Rustenburg Central Business District (CBD) for being in possession of drugs and a second suspect from Lesotho, aged 25, was also arrested in the CBD for possession of drugs and unlawful possession of ammunition.
On Monday afternoon, 7 April, the team arrested a further seven men between the ages of 22 and 42 in Ledig for being in the country illegally. Police confiscated more generators, water pumps and batteries believed to be used in illegal mining activities.
Lastly, early on Tuesday morning, 8 April in Zinniaville, 16 more men between the ages of 25 and 52 were arrested for the contravention of the Immigration Act.
All the suspects have been scheduled to appear in the Tlhabane and Mankwe Magistrates’ Courts, respectively. The suspects are from different countries, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Nigeria, and Lesotho.
The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, indicated that the influx and continued arrests of illegal immigrants, of whom many are involved in illegal mining, are a cause for grave concern. He said: “While these arrests by the Vala Umgodi team are welcomed, it is worrisome that the masterminds, who are the real beneficiaries and funders of illegal migration and illegal mining, are not being arrested. It is known that Zama Zamas are not the real problem and therefore, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Organised Crime and Intelligence Unit (OCIU), Border Management Authority (BMA), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Crime Intelligence (JOINTS) should intensify their operations if illegal mining is to be completely eradicated.”.
