By REGINALD KANYANE
As part of intensifying the fight against illegal mining, 24 suspects aged between 19 and 47, briefly appeared before the Brits Magistrate’s Court on 24 July 2024, on charges of contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002, and illegal mining. Of the 24 accused persons, 12 were remanded in custody until 25 July and 13 August 2024, for legal aid, plea and interpreter.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col Amanda Funani said moreover, 11 accused were found guilty and fined R2000 respectively. Funani said the suspects were arrested by Vala Umgodi deployment that included various South African Police Service (SAPS) Units and members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at Skeerpoort Farm illegal mining site near Hartbeespoortdam on 22 July 2024.
“The preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are from Mozambique, Lesotho and Zimbabwe foreign nationals. The police seized illegal mining equipment that included the phenduka machine, generators, hammers, jack hammers, water pumps and many others,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the Vala Umgodi multi-disciplinary team members for the successful operation that led to the arrests and confiscation of illegal mining equipment.
The Guardian 