LIMPOPO – Five suspects arrested for illegal mining in the Sekhukhune and Mecklenburg magistrate courts today on charges related to the contravention of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Act and the National Environmental Maintenance Act.
Police Spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says the three accused, Mfowabo Luthuli (34), Herry Malinoa (25) and Emmanuel Ntozakhe (32) were granted R1000 bail each.
“The other two, Bernard Lucky Dube (49) and Christian Samanga (23) appeared in Mecklenburg magistrate court and were remanded in custody pending the verification of Christian Samanga’s Zimbabwean residential address. They will appear again on 05 June 2017,” Mojapelo explained.
He says these operations should ultimately lead to the eradication of illegal mining in the affected areas.
“The police will continue to monitor the area and will not hesitate to take action against anyone operating illegally anywhere in the province.”
Mojapelo says police investigations continue to make a determination on the involvement of other people including any possible kingpins.
LIMPOPO – The five suspects, aged between 33 and 44-years-old, will appear in the Mecklenburg and Sekhukhune magistrate courts respectively, on Monday, 29 May.
Read more: Illegal miners nabbed, heavy equipment confiscated
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says the suspects will face charges stipulated in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Act and the National Environmental Maintenance Act.
“An additional five TLBs, two trucks and two vans, suspected to be used in the illegal mining activities, were confiscated,” Mojapelo said.
Preliminary investigations indicate the machinery and the trucks were hired in Gauteng.
“We therefore issue a stern warning to the owners to first state the purpose for which the equipment were hired, before concluding any transaction. Otherwise they run the risk of having their properties forfeited to the state for being used in the commission of crime,” Mojapelo concluded.
