Twenty-four suspects arrested during Operation Vala Umgodi, appear in court for contravention of the Immigration Act

As part of intensifying the fight against illegal mining, 24 suspects between the ages of 19 and 47, appeared before the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 24 July 2024, on charges of contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002, and illegal mining. Of the 24 accused persons, 12 were remanded in custody until Thursday, 25 July and Tuesday, 13 August 2024, for legal aid, plea and interpreter. Moreover, 11 accused were found guilty and fined R2000.00 respectively.

The suspects were arrested on Monday, 22 July 2024, by Vala Umgodi deployment that included various South African Police Service (SAPS) Units and members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at Skeerpoort Farm illegal mining site near Hartbeespoortdam. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are Mozambique, Lesotho and Zimbabwe foreign nationals. The police seized illegal mining equipment that included the phenduka machine, generators hammers, jack hammers, water pumps and many others.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the Vala Umgodi multi-disciplinary team members for the successful operation that led to the arrests and confiscation of illegal mining equipment.