By OBAKENG MAJE

Thirteen undocumented persons were arrested in Namaqua District on 10 January 2024. According to the Northern Cape police spokesperson, Col Cherelle Ehlers, 12 of the undocumented persons arrested, were Lesotho nationals aged between 23 and 45.

She said another undocumented persons was a Zimbabwe national aged 45.

“On 10 January 2024, the members from Public Order Police (POP), executed Operation Vala Umgodi and conducted a search and seizure actions in the Namaqua district.

“A 190 items believed to be used in the commission of illicit mining were seized, including pliers, jackhammers, drills, spotlights, grinders, generators, shovels, sand sieves, pickaxes, chisels, hand hammers and screwdrivers,” said Ehler.

She said Operation Vala Umgodi will continue unabated to curb illicit mining.

Meanwhile, the Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended the police for executing arrests.

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