W’aria shootout: 21 suspected illegal miners arrested
Westonaria police arrested 21 undocumented persons suspected of being involved in illegal mining activities in the area and following a shootout earlier this week.
Westonaria police arrested 21 undocumented persons suspected of being involved in illegal mining activities in the area and following a shootout earlier this week.
According to West Rand District Police Spokesperson Captain Solomon Sibiya, the police received a complaint on Tuesday, November 15 of a shooting at a dumping site in the area.
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“All crime prevention and armed response police units were mobilised to the scene. They responded swiftly where upon arrival at the scene found three unknown victims that had been shot and during preliminary police investigation, the wounded victims informed the police that they got shot during a fight with other Basotho foreign nationals.”
He added that the police investigated further and managed to apprehend 21 undocumented foreign nationals near the scene of the crime, suspected to have been involved in the shooting.
“Among the arrested suspects, one suspect was further charged with attempted murder and unlawful possession of unlicensed firearm when a Vector pistol with one magazine was found in his possession.”
Sibiya stated that the motive for the shooting is being investigated, and that all wounded suspects were later taken to a local hospital in a stable but critical condition.
