By BAKANG MOKOTO
The case against 21 suspected illegal miners who were arrested during a well-executed operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team at a mining shaft in Stilfontein near Klerksdorp on 10 October 2022 was postponed.
According to the Hawks, the operation followed weeks of surveillance into the alleged illegal mining activities of the accused. Fifteen AK47s, six hunting rifles, two shotguns, and one R5, boxes full of ammunition, explosives, and an undisclosed amount of money were confiscated during the raid.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, Henry Mamothame said, one of the accused who was arrested at his home, is suspected of transporting food and goods to the illegal miners, while on site. He further said the accused vehicle was also seized.
“The state is studying the docket’s preliminary charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of prohibited firearms, possession of ammunition, and contravention of the immigration act, and not ruling out a possibility of adding more charges.
“The accused appeared briefly at Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court and the case was postponed to 31 October 2022 for a formal bail application. Five of the accused have been confirmed to be South African citizens, while 16 are verified to be illegal in the country,” he said.
Mamothame added that, all twenty suspects have sourced the services of one private attorney while the remaining accused will source his own attorney.
He said the state intends to oppose bail.
“The Hawks were assisted by members of the Hawks’ Tactical Management Section, Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, District Illegal Mining Task Team, Tactical Response Team, Bidvest Protea Coin, and Harmony Gold mine during a raid.
“All the suspects will remain in police custody until the next court appearance,” said Mamothame.
The Guardian 