In an endeavour to fight illicit mining, the “Vala Umgodi” operation conducted in Hartbeespoortdam and Rustenburg between Friday, 10 and Saturday, 11 May 2024, resulted in the arrest of 23 suspects.
Of the 23 suspects, one was nabbed on Friday afternoon in Rustenburg for possession of explosives. The other 22 suspects were arrested in Hartbeespoortdam for contravention the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002). They are foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.
During the operations, the team that comprised of various units of the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Brits Immigration Officials, seized the following items that were found abandoned:
– 3 Supersonic generators
– 20 Generators
– 15 Extension cords
– 11 Jack Hammers
– 16 Hammers
– Two Pressure pumps
– 16 Phendukas
– One Phenduka stand
– 65 Chisels
– 2 Water pumps
– 1 Grinder
– 4 Grinder blades
– 24 Spades
– 8 Pickaxe with handles
– 3 Knives
– 2 Gas cylinders
– 1 Gas bottle
– 28 Pieces of steel chains
– 1 Hacksaw
The suspects are expected to appear in the Rustenburg and Brits Magistrates’ Court today, for contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002.