By BAKANG MOKOTO
21 December 2025- The acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia and North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, will visit Kgosi Andrew Nkoana Mogale and Bapo ba Mogale Traditional Council following a spike of illegal mining activities in Bapong village, near Brits on 22 December 2025. The national Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, as well as the acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo will also be in attendance.
The acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi said, visit forms part of government’s ongoing efforts to find a lasting solution to illegal mining activities in Bapong and surrounding areas by engaging various stakeholders and in this regard, the Bapo Ba Mogale Traditional Council. Mogotsi said to date, 21 illegal miners have been arrested since police started a crackdown on illicit mining operations in the area.
“Heavy machinery has since been seized and removed from the site as police continue to follow all possible leads in identifying the masterminds behind these operations. The visit will be held at Bapo Ba Mogale Royal Palace (R104-Old Pretoria Road) on 22 December 2025, at 10am.
The Guardian 