LIMPOPO – A joint operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Crime Intelligence, Public Order Police and Department for Mineral Resource resulted in the arrest of seven suspects at the rehabilitated Ellerton Mine in Hlaniki village earlier today, 14 September.
You might also want to read: Driekop: Four ‘illegal miners’ die as dump truck capsizes over mountain
Provincial Hawks spokesperson, Captain Matimba Malulele says 89 bags of gold bearing material were seized during the operation and it comes hot off the heels of two similar operations conducted in March and May this year, where about 45 suspects were arrested for alleged illegal mining and for unlawful possession of unwrought precious metal.
“The seven suspects between the ages of 26 and 60-years-old are expected to appear in the Giyani Magistrates Court on Monday, 17 September on charges of contravening the Precious Metal Act 37 of 2005 Sec 4, illegal mining and unlawful possession of unwrought metal,” Maluleke concluded.
