Eleven illegal miners were sentenced at the Westonaria Magistrate’s Court on 2 March.
The men received jail terms ranging from 22 months to over two years imprisonment or a fine of R20 000 to R30 000.
This comes after they pleaded guilty to charges of theft and being illegal immigrants without passports.
A total of 33 illegal miners were caught on 6 March last year at the Sibanye Gold mine in Westonaria and only 12 of them pleaded guilty at the time and were sentenced accordingly
According to a reliable source, during this time, the suspects were found in possession of gold to the value of R93 000 and illegal mining instruments.
“Following their arrest, 12 of them pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against them and were sentenced to jail terms ranging from four to eight years in prison.
“The remaining miners also had their days in court and they decided to plead guilty on 28 February to the charges leveled against them,” says the officer.
The miners are expected to serve their terms with immediate effect.
This is the second group of illegal miners found at the Sibanye Gold Mine to be sentenced thus far.
According to Magistrate Riaan De Bruin, the sentences should be a deterrent for other illegal miners.
“People need to be aware that illegal mining is rife in South Africa.
“They also need to know that it is dangerous.
“We have heard of people losing their lives in this trade at the Roodepoort and Benoni mine shafts,” says De Bruin.
Deport illegal imigrants, our jails are overgrowded
Now they will get to spend their time in a real “hell-hole”