Police arrest homeowner and accomplice for illegal mining

RUSTENBURG – A 65-year-old home owner and accomplice are expected to appear before the Rustenburg Magistrates Court on Monday, 09 September 2024, for illegal mining, tampering with and / or damaging of essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen goods.

The man was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning, 05 September 2024, at Nkandla informal settlement near Khuseleka 1 mine by Tlhabane Visible Policing, Royal Bafokeng Tactical Team and Rustenburg Public Safety. Reports suggest that Acting on a tip-off, the team arrested two suspects, aged 65 and 31, for illegal mining, tampering with and / or damaging of essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen goods.

It is alleged that the home owner (65) who resides with his family, used and or / allowed a group of men to utilise one of the bedrooms as an entrance to the nearby Khuseleka mine shaft. Upon noticing the police, an unconfirmed number of men entered and disappeared into the man-made hole in the bedroom, while the other two including the owner of the house, were arrested.

With the assistance of the mine security team, some of the mine property and other equipment were found inside the house. A search for other suspects is continued when eight more zama-zamas between the ages of 16 and 45 were arrested between Friday, 6, and Saturday, 7 September 2024.

The suspects decided to stay underground when they were trying to evade arrest, on Thursday, 5 September 2024. It is alleged they saw the police coming in a house at Tlhabane, a house that they used to enter Khusela mine shaft. They were arrested after they decided to finally come out.

Out of the 10 arrested suspects, four are South Africans, and six are foreign nationals. The 10 suspects are expected to appear before Rustenburg Magistrate court on Monday, 09 September 2024, for first court appearance.