Lentswe, Orkney A Lesotho man appeared in the Orkney Magistrates Court on Monday May 20 for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Tankie Hleloane (33) is still in custody and will appear in court again on Monday May 27. He was apprehended on Friday May 17 during Operation “Vala Umgodi” held in Kanana. According to Col Adele Myburgh, police spokesperson, the Vala Umgodi team followed-up on information received about a certain house that was allegedly rented by illicit miners. While the police were searching through the house, a revolver and 51 rounds of ammunition were allegedly found hidden in a cylinder in Hleloane’s room, leading to his immediate arrest.
Myburgh added that the “Vala Umgodi” deployment in Rustenburg seized a large quantity of mining equipment and arrested seven suspected undocumented persons in the disruptive illegal mining operation conducted in Tlhatlhaganyane village on Sunday May 19.
The following suspects were arrested for contravention of Section 49(1)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002): Thomas Sithole (34), Priviledge Tshikira (22), Calvin Zvhoutete (21), Tawande Moyambo (32), Brian Madhdoro (23) and Trust Mthethwa (21) are foreign nationals from Zimbabwe and were remanded in custody until May 22. The seventh accused, Timothy Masango (41) will reappear in court on Tuesday May 28.
The team seized illegal mining equipment, which were found abandoned.
They include:
- 17 Generators
- Seven spades
- Two shovels
- 35 jack hammers
- Four loose jack hammers drill bits
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the “Vula Umgodi” team that is fighting zama-zamas in the province. He said criminal activities will not be tolerated.
