Eighteen foreigners arrested for illegal mining
In a crime operation held over two days, which began on Thursday, September 5, police officers arrested 18 illegal miners at an inoperational mineshaft in Nights.
The operation was initiated by the Reiger Park police, after they received a tip-off about the illegal mining activities in the area.
As the illegal miners covered in thick dust emerged from underground, police officers were waiting for them, next to the hole that gives access to the unused mineshaft.
They were all bundled in police vans, before being taken to the police station.
These miners hail from neighbouring countries, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho.
Some of them are undocumented and do not have working permits.
These miners were charged with illegal mining and all appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court this week.
According to the police, some of the miners were granted R1 000 bail each, but those that are undocumented were remanded in custody.
The arrests are the latest by police.
Dozens of illegal miners were also arrested late last month.
Mashudu Phathela, spokesperson for the Reiger Park SAPS, admitted that the problem of illegal mining is widespread across their policing precinct.
Phathela stated that their operation aimed at cracking down on illegal mining is going to continue until all illegal miners are removed.
One of the illegal miners, who requested that his identity should not be disclosed, gave the Advertiser an insight into their illegal activities underground.
This miner, who lives in Western Area, and is originally from Lesotho, told the Advertiser that he had been mining for a few months at the Nights shaft.
“It is going to be very difficult for the authorities to control, contain, monitor or police illegal mining,” he says.
“Arresting 18 people will not make any substantial difference, because as I am speaking to you now, hundreds of illegal miners are underground, sifting soil to find gold dust.
“Different groups of miners work in the hundreds of tunnels at the mine site that lead to all parts of the city. Some of the illegal miners are former mine workers who are familiar with the underground system, and who know exactly where to dig,” he explains.
“When we go underground, we carry our food, because we often spend months underground, eking out a living.”
The miners wear industrial helmets, gumboots and work suits.
Their mining equipment consists of a pick, spade, torch, chisel, hammer, bucket, bowl and other equipment.
“People also need to understand that we are not doing this dangerous job because we like to. For some of us (foreigners) it is very difficult to find a job, because we don’t have work permits,” he adds.
“We are dependent on illegal mining for a living. I’m the breadwinner back home in Lesotho, and illegal mining is the only source of income for my family.”
