The Vala Umgodi team continues to hit hard on illegal miners. At James shaft, the team’s Crime Intelligence spotted four suspicious males carrying a bag Wednesday, 05 June 2024.
The operational team was mobilised and managed to arrest the suspects. The members discovered two 12 volt batteries and one pulling winch near a ventilation shaft. The goods were apparently due to be lowered underground. The suspects, aged between 18 and 30, are expected to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 10 June 2024, facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime and theft.
Preliminary investigation revealed that three of the suspects, are Mozambican foreign nationals and two of them are undocumented. The fourth suspect is a South African.
In another incident on Tuesday evening, 04 June 2024, the Vala Umgodi team conducted a waylay operation at Tony Shaft near Khuma Location. Upon arrival at the shaft, the members spotted Zama-Zamas, who ran to different directions and disappeared in the bushes. The members subsequently discovered one Uzi machine gun with a magazine, 10 ammunition, various foodstuffs and a pulling winch. It was established that the firearm was stolen during a house robbery in March 2023, in Klerksdorp.
In the third and last incident, the team spotted suspects who were lowering foodstuffs at James Shaft, Stilfontein in the early hours of Friday morning, 31 May 2024. Upon arrival of the police, the suspects ran away and left behind a lot of maize meal, a Nissan bakkie and a rope used to get the foodstuffs underground. The goods including the bakkie were confiscated. Investigations including confirmation of the vehicle ownership, are underway.
The Police Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the teams for their tireless efforts in the fight against illicit economic activities.