Picture: Some of equipment seized by the police/Supplied
By BAKANG MOKOTO
29 September 2024- More than 21 illegal miners were arrested by a multi-disciplinary Vala Umgodi team in Bojanala Platinum District on 25 and 26 September 2024, for contravention of Section (49) (1) (a) of Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002). The suspects aged between 20 and 56, were nabbed in Tlhatlaganyane, Witrandjie, and Mooinooi.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani said the suspects include 10 Lesotho, five Mozambique, three Malawi, one Ethiopia, and one Zimbabwe foreign nationals and a South African. Funani said during the operations, the police seized illegal mining equipment such as generators, jack hammers, spades, drills, crowbars, and other tools.
“The suspects are expected to appear before the Brits and Mogwase Magistrate’s Courts respectively, on 30 September 2024,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, commended the Vala Umgodi team for the sterling job they do in the fight against illicit mining in the province.
The Guardian 