Picture: Six illegal miners resurfaced at disused Stilfontein mine
By REGINALD KANYANE
18 December 2024 – A total of six illegal miners were placed under arrest today, for illegal mining, trespassing and contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002. This comes after four illegal miners resurfaced at Margaret Shaft and the other two were pulled out at Buffels Shaft No. 11.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said they comprise three Lesotho, two Zimbabwe and one Mozambique undocumented foreign nationals. Mokgwabone said in addition to the stipulated charges, one of the suspects will be charged for possession of gold bearing material.
“All of them are still being processed. The Vala Umgodi operations continue in the province,” he said.
Picture: The man-made hole in one of the bedrooms of the accused/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
8 September 2024 – A homeowner (65) and his accomplice (31), are expected to appear before the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on 9 September 2024, for illegal mining, tampering with and/or damaging of essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen goods.
The suspect was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning, 5 September 2024, at Nkandla Informal Settlement, near Khuseleka 1 mine by Tlhabane Visible Policing, Royal Bafokeng Tactical Team and Rustenburg Public Safety.
The North West police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani said the police received a tip-off and arrested two suspects for illegal mining, tampering with and/or damaging of essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen goods.
“It is alleged that the home owner, who resides with his family, used and/or allowed a group of men to utilise one of the bedrooms as an entrance to the nearby Khuseleka Mine Shaft.
“Upon noticing the police, an unconfirmed number of men entered and disappeared into the man-made hole in the bedroom, while the other two including the owner of the house were arrested,” she said.
Funani said: “With the assistance of the mine security team, some of the mine property and other equipment were found inside the house. A search for other suspects is continuing.”
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrests and thanked the team for their concerted efforts in addressing illegal mining activities.
The Guardian 