Heidelberg SAPS joined with Sedibeng law enforcement on October 21 to conduct a routine inspection of illegal mining activities in Heidelberg.
The closed mine in Poortjie was visited. The SAPS members found illegal mining activity.
The moment the alleged illegal miners saw the police they ran away in different directions. The police chased after them and apprehended 10 suspects.
The equipment that was confiscated included 17 spades, four picks, one large hammer, one generator water pump and a container that contained gold dust.
The suspects were detained at the Heidelberg SAPS. Some of the charges levelled against them are illegal mining and being in the country illegally.
The Sedibeng district deputy commissioner Brigadier AM Nkhwashu welcomed the arrests and applauded the station commander Colonel Siphiwe Ndwandwe and his team.
Nkhwashu said the suspects will be processed by the Department of Home Affairs, as they are all suspected to be undocumented foreign nationals.
The suspects will appear in the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court soon.
