Five arrested for illegal mining in Marathon informal settlement
"Every piece of metal equipment was brought to a scrapyard in Meyerton and destroyed.
Lieutenant Colonel Phuti Lamola, the Vispol commander of Primrose SAPS, has praised the ongoing success of SAPS members in combating illegal mining operations.
On August 5, during a multi-disciplinary operation at the Makause informal settlement, SAPS apprehended five individuals suspected of illegal mining.
Additionally, 32 individuals were detained on suspicion of being undocumented immigrants.
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The operation included members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), SAPS, and other law enforcement personnel.
On Wednesday, August 7, these teams gathered to observe the destruction of seized mining equipment.
“All of the mining equipment, including knee cap covers, bags of gold-bearing soil, motors, generators, pendukas, stone crushing machines, oxygen cylinders, spades, picks, steel pots, chains, steel balls, wheelbarrows, gambling machines, and assorted liquor, were destroyed,” said Lamola.
Lamola emphasised that all metal equipment was transported to a scrapyard in Meyerton for destruction, ensuring that none of
the seized items were resold to illegal mining organisations.
“We collaborated with a distant scrapyard because of their effective methods in crushing and disposing of the pendukas,” Lamola explained.
Ward 36 Clr Wendy Morgan expressed her satisfaction with the SAPS’ consistent operations, noting that illegal mining activities had terrorised the neighborhood for a long time.
ALSO READ: Primrose CPF calls on justice system to support efforts to stop illegal mining
“Illegal mining in Primrose has caused serious issues, including road damage, sinkholes, water infrastructure damage, and injuries from gunfights.
“We are relieved to see law enforcement addressing this problem to make the community safer.
“The informal settlement’s illegal mining is a disaster waiting to happen due to the risk of ground collapse,” Morgan said.
Ekurhuleni district commissioner Major General Anna Sithole also praised the joint efforts that led to the arrests and the confiscation of illegal mining equipment.
