Grip tightened on illegal mining
Police and other stakeholders zoned in on an illegal mining hotspot in Sherwood Gardens.
Law enforcers have declared war against illegal miners. The Brakpan SAPS joined forces with stakeholders last week and conducted a three-day operation to close off all trenches and holes dug by illegal miners along Oval Road in Sherwood Gardens.
Constable Audrey Buthelezi, the SAPS Sector 1 manager and communications officer, reached out to the stakeholders and, following a meeting, a crime prevention team was formed.
Stakeholders include the CPF, AfriForum and Gold One mine.
The team’s first task was to fight illegal mining, specifically concentrating on Oval Road, which, according to Buthelezi, will soon collapse due to holes being dug along and under the road.
The objective is to halt all illegal mining activity in the area to prevent the road from being completely destroyed like Main Reef Road
This road, near the Plastic City informal settlement, has been decimated by zama zamas and has long been closed to motorists.
“PR councillor Riaan van Zyl contacted the local Gold One mine, which agreed to lend the team two TLBs with operators from Monday to Wednesday,” said Buthelezi.
“The TLBs were put to work from 09:00 to 15:00 each day for the three days. SAPS, AfriForum, CPF, and private security companies were on site each day to make sure the illegal miners did not disturb the operation and to protect the mine equipment and employees.”
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The private security companies that assisted were Secure Tech, Graphite, Fidelity ADT and CP.
“Deep trenches that threatened to destroy and collapse Oval Road, and all other holes dug for illegal mining were closed during the operation,” said Buthelezi.
“The aim is to also remove all obstructions, making it possible for patrollers and the police to see any movements and activities on the site.
“Illegal electricity connections from streetlights into Plastic City were discovered and reported to the municipality.”
Buthelezi, who led the team during the operation, added that law enforcers will not only be clamping down on illegal miners but all criminals operating in the Brakpan area.
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