Fifteen arrested in Northern Cape for illegal mining and immigration offences
Ten suspects were apprehended at an illegal diamond mining site, where they were found with suspected unpolished diamonds.
Image: Supplied / SAPS
IN A SIGNIFICANT crackdown on illegal mining activities, the South African Police Service in the Northern Cape has arrested 15 male suspects, aged between 22 and 50, across the province.
The arrests were made during a multi-disciplinary operation conducted by members of Operation Vala Umgodi in the Namakwa District.
According to the Provincial Commissioner’s office, the operation was intelligence-driven and targeted suspicious nocturnal mining operations at a diamond site in Koingnaas. Ten suspects were apprehended at the site, where they were found with suspected unpolished diamonds.
In a separate operation in the Frances Baard District, teams led by Colonel Sebenzile Qunta, Provincial TAC-JOC Commander, raided an illegal mining camp at Beefmaster, recovering a significant quantity of dagga.
Additional arrests were made in Kimberley, where three suspects were found to be in the country without valid documentation, and two more suspects were arrested in Longlands for illegal mining activities. Police confiscated suspected diamond-bearing gravel, unpolished diamonds, and equipment believed to have been used in the commission of illegal mining operations.
The arrested individuals are expected to appear in the respective Magistrates’ Courts on Monday, June 23 2025.
The South African Police Service in the Northern Cape has urged members of the public to report any suspicious activities anonymously via the MySAPS App or the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111.
Police confiscated suspected diamond-bearing gravel, unpolished diamonds, and equipment believed to have been used in the commission of illegal mining operations.
Image: Supplied / SAPS