Five would-be miners aged between 25 to 39 were arrested after being in possession of unlicensed firearms and mine camp lamps.
According to Sergeant Linkie Lefakane, Bekkersdal Police spokesperson, the incident took place on Sunday, 17 July at approximately 10.30pm at the Cooke 4 mine shaft.
Lefakane explained that mine security personnel were conducting their routine patrols when they spotted a bakkie parked near the shaft.
The security personnel allegedly stopped to investigate why the bakkie was parked there. When asked, the driver alleged that the bakkie broke down, however, inside the bakkie, four occupants were wearing mining gear and had mine camp lamps. The security personnel then asked which mine the men were from but they could not give an appropriate answer.
“The security officers decided to search the occupants and two firearms with the serial number filed off were found on two suspects. All five were arrested with suspicion to commit crime and for being in possession of mine camp lamps. The two will however be charged with being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition,” Lefakane explained.
The suspects are soon expected in the Westonaria Magistrates’ Court. This makes for the second incident where Bekkersdal Police have caught illegal miners.
The last suspect who was a foreign national, was arrested and later found guilty for trespassing and illegal mining last month. The suspect received five years imprisonment.
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Also read:
Foreign illegal miner gets five years
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