35 suspects nabbed for illegal mining and immigration violations
Operation Vala Umgodi is a multi-disciplinary initiative led by the South African Police Service, the South African National Defence Force, and the Department of Home Affairs to counter illegal mining. Pictures: SAPS
THE MULTI-disciplinary team executing Operation Vala Umgodi in the Northern Cape arrested 35 suspects during targeted operations that began on Saturday, July 6.
Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam said on Monday that the arrests were made in connection with contraventions of the Illicit Mining and Immigration statutes, as well as trespassing.
In the Namakwa District, the team swiftly acted on information and raided the Bontekoe informal settlement mining area. There, they arrested 27 Lesotho and Zimbabwean nationals, aged between 20 and 49 years old, for engaging in illegal mining and violating immigration laws.
Additionally, mine security alerted the team to intruders within the Koingnaas mine premises. The team successfully apprehended a 24-year-old Zimbabwean man found in possession of unpolished diamonds.
In the Frances Baard District, in Kimberley, the team also arrested 7 Malawian, Lesotho and Zimbabwean nationals aged between 24 and 54 years old for contravention of the illicit mining and immigration statute.
In Kimberley in the Frances Baard District, the team arrested seven Malawian, Lesotho and Zimbabwean nationals, aged between 24 and 54 years old, for contravening the Illicit Mining and Immigration statutes. Several mining implements were also confiscated during these operations.
Furthermore, the team tracked down and apprehended three wanted suspects, aged 22, 27 and 38 years old, who had been evading authorities.
All suspects are scheduled to appear in court soon. The police remain committed to intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining in the Northern Cape region, said Sam.
