To combat the plague of illegal mining, Lieutenant Colonel Lucia Govender oversaw an integrated illegal mining operation in Primrose.
The operation included members of SAPS and other law enforcement organisations.
During the operation, five people were nabbed for illegal mining and also charged for being undocumented.
“Among the items taken from them were 9km gas bottles, a water pump unit, a generator, a pot crusher, steel crusher and nine fan belts.
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“Officers also discovered an abandoned water pump motor, a 7kg gas bottle, steel bag, four generator components and another six fan belts,” said Primrose SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Styles Maome.
Mining equipment seized from earlier mining operations and kept in storage by Primrose SAPS was transported to a nearby scrapyard on October 19, where it was destroyed.