By BAKANG MOKOTO
19 January 2025- The South African Police Service (SAPS) said it wishes to clarify certain issues pertaining to matters related to Stilfontein and condemns the ongoing peddling of misinformation and lies. The police said the first matter is that of the personal information of suspects arrested in the Stilfontein retrieval operation.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the police have since the commencement of the resurfacing of illegal miners, shared a list of those that have resurfaced and retrieved them with two community leaders. Mokgwabone said this was firstly done to ensure transparency with communities, but to also ensure that community members assist the police in finding the next-of-kin of those involved in the illegal mining operations.
“The police have since learnt with dismay that these lists which include names, nationalities and birth dates have been widely shared on various social media platforms. The police are therefore investigating the sharing of suspects personal information in public.
“The second issue is the peddling of lies and misinformation on the blasting of shaft 10 by police. Upon receipt of such an allegation, the police instructed its explosives team to inspect shaft 10 for any sign of explosion,” he said.
Mokgwabone further said it was found that no such blasting or bombing as is referred to – took place. He added that, the police remind those behind this peddling, that according to the Explosives Act 26 of 1956 Section 27 (1A), it is an offense to communicate false information regarding any explosion or alleged explosion.
“Those that do will be guilty of an offense. The SAPS is engaging its legal team on a way forward. Thirdly, the allegation that police arrested one of the volunteers, Mzwandile Mkwayi, in this operation is devoid of truth.
“Mkwayi, according to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is a parolee and allegedly contravened his parole conditions. The SAPS refers this matter to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) for further information and clarity. It should be noted that the volunteer is not in police custody,” said Mokgwabone.
He said Vala Umgodi deployments continue to prevent and combat illicit mining activities in Stilfontein.
Meanwhile, the Department of Correctional Services spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo said Mkwayi was not arrested or detained by the DCS. Nxumalo said he was taken to the Klerksdorp Community Corrections Office for administrative purposes, as he is currently a parolee.
“Mkwayi has been on parole since 15 April 2021. His sentence, which commenced following a conviction for murder on 16 September 2013, is set to expire on 15 September 2028. Parole violations include leaving designated jurisdiction.
“So, Mkwayi violated his parole conditions by leaving his designated jurisdiction without prior notification or approval from his monitoring officials. Adherence to jurisdictional boundaries is a critical aspect of parole conditions to ensure proper monitoring,” he said.
Nxumalo said Mkwayi also engaged with media outlets without securing prior authorization, which constitutes another breach of his parole conditions. He said the DSC has issued a formal warning to Mkwayi for these violations.
“He remains on parole and will continue to be monitored in accordance with the conditions of his parole placement until the sentence expiry date,” said Nxumalo.
The Guardian 