SAPS continues to clamp down on illegal mining

POLOKWANE – The Multidisciplinary Teams comprising of the SAPS Border Policing, National Intervention Unit, Public Order Policing, Organised Crime Investigation Unit, and the SANDF, through Operation Vala Umgodi have arrested sixty-two suspects for various offenses that included contravention of environmental act, unlawful possession of unwrought precious minerals, illegal mining, possession of illicit cigarettes and foreign nationals for contravention of immigration act.

The Multidisciplinary Teams arrested four foreign national male suspects aged between 26 and 34 years for illegal mining activities at Maake policing area on Thursday, 02 May 2024.

It is reported that the suspects were nabbed while processing unwrought precious minerals at Matshelapata village outside Tzaneen and the Police have confiscated mining equipment that included power generators, electrical motors, penducas, wheelbarrows, shovels and spades as well as penduca stands. The suspects are expected to appear before various Magistrate’s Courts on Monday 06 May 2024.