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Eleven illegal miners were arrested in the mountains of Thlabina near Ramodike Dam in the Maake area recently.
The arrest was a joint operation between Tzaneen Cluster, Hawks, Air Wing, POPS, the Department of of Minerals and Energy, the Department of Water and Sanitation, Crime Prevention members and CIG.
Read: VIDEO: Illegal mining destroying nature next to KNP
The arrested suspects appeared before the Lenyenye Magistrate Court on Tuesday November 28.
Meanwhile the Department of Water and Sanitation had organised a consultation meeting with traditional leaders on matters of illegal sand mining scourge but was later cancelled until further notice.