
By BAKANG MOKOTO
The Operation Vala Umgodi continues to hit hard on illegal miners. This comes after the crime-intelligence team allegedly spotted suspicious men aged between 18 and 30, carrying a bag at James Shaft, near Stilfontein on 5 June 2024.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the operational team was mobilised and managed to arrest the suspects. Mokgwabone said the police allegedly discovered two 12 volt batteries and one pulling winch near a ventilation shaft.
“The goods were apparently due to be lowered underground. The suspects are expected to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on 10 June 2024, facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime and theft.
“The preliminary investigation revealed that three of the suspects are Mozambican foreign nationals and two of them are undocumented. The fourth suspect is a South African,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said in another incident on Tuesday evening, 4 June 2024, the Vala Umgodi team conducted a waylay operation at Tony Shaft near Khuma Township, near Stilfontein. He added that upon arrival at the shaft, the police allegedly spotted zama-zamas, who ran in different directions and disappeared in the bushes.
“The police subsequently discovered one Uzi machine gun with a magazine, 10 ammunition, various foodstuffs and a pulling winch. It was established that the firearm was stolen during a house robbery in Klerksdorp in March 2023.
“In the third incident, the police spotted suspects who were allegedly lowering foodstuffs at James Shaft in Stilfontein in the early hours of Friday morning, 31 May 2024. Upon arrival of the police, the suspects allegedly ran away and left behind a lot of maize meal, a Nissan bakkie and a rope used to get the foodstuffs underground,” said Mokgwabone.
He said the goods, including the bakkie, were confiscated. Mokgwabone said the investigations including confirmation of the vehicle ownership are underway.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded the police for their tireless efforts in the fight against illicit economic activities.




