By BAKANG MOKOTO
20 March 2025- More than 19 suspects arrested for Illicit Mining Act and numerous other crimes during operations that commenced on Friday, 14 March 2025. This comes after the Northern Cape multi-disciplinary teams executing Operation Vala Umgodi in the Frances Baard and Namakwa Districts respectively.
The Northern Cape police spokesperson,
Sergeant Timothy Sam said the police in the Namakwa District, while conducting visual observation duties around Bontakoei and Koeingnaas mining areas, arrested 6 suspects for illicit mining, trespassing and contravention of the immigration statutes. Sam said the police also issued fines to motorists for various traffic violations and inspected numerous firearms for compliance during vehicle check points, and stop and searches.
“In the Frances Baard District, the team executed search warrants at numerous addresses around the Ekapa mine mining area and arrested 12 suspects for possession and dealing in drugs, and recovered 2 cell phones valued at more than R11 000 that were stolen out of a motor vehicle in Kelvin Street, Kimberley.
“The Vala Umgodi police investigation team could also link an arrested suspect with a Kagisho house breaking and theft case reported in 2017. Numerous mining implements, including spades, bags containing suspected diamond bearing gravel, drugs that include mandrax, dagga and crystal meth valued to more than R20 000 was confiscated,” he said.
Sam further said the suspects will appear in the Port Nolloth and Kimberley Magistrate’s Courts respectively soon. He added that, if people see something, they must say something.
“Report illegal mining to the SAPS Crime Stop 08600 10111,” said Sam.
The Guardian 