‘Vala Umgodi’ results in 23 foreigners arrested for illegal mining

HARTBEESPOORT – 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 x Supersonic generators
20 x Generators
15 x Extension cords
11 x Jack Hammers
16 x Hammers
2 x Pressure pumps
16 x Phendukas
1 x Phenduka stand
65 x Chisels
2 x Water pumps
1 x Grinder
4 x Grinder blades
24 x Spades
8 x Pickaxe with handles
3 x Knives
2 x Gas cylinders
1 x Gas bottle
28 x Pieces of steel chains
1 x Hacksaw

The suspects are expected to appear in the Rustenburg and Brits Magistrates’ Court today, for contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002.