The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation members arrested nine suspected illegal miners aged between 23 and 73 in the Giyani area on Monday, 28 June 2021.
A multi-disciplinary operation led by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team assisted by Giyani Cluster, Public Order Policing, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, Department of Home Affairs, and Department of Environmental Affairs swooped in on illegal miners who were caught in the act of mining gold concentrate.
During the operation, nine shovels, fifteen spades, seventeen picks, one bicycle, one axe, and six bush knives to the value of R4 000-00 were seized.
The suspects are expected to make their first appearance in the Giyani Magistrates’ Court today on 29 June 2021 for charges relating to illegal mining. More operations to address the scourge of illegal mining in the Province are still going to be conducted.