LIMPOPO –A total of thirty three alleged illegal gold miners have been arrested during a Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit operation at an abandoned mine outside Giyani last week.
According to statement issued by Hawks spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke, a disruptive operation by the Hawks, the Department for Mineral Resource (DMR), Provincial Organised Crime Unit, Public Order Police, the Air Wing and Local Criminal Record Centre was conducted at Ellerton rehabilitated mine at Nhlaniki village on Friday following an outcry by the local community about the alleged illegal mining of gold at the mine.
Ellerton mine that was closed by DMR in 2016, said Maluleke.
“During the operation gold bearing material, five vehicles and several mining equipment including two generators, mining drill machines, camping tents, industrial hammers and a sieve valued at about R500 000 was seized.”
All suspects will be processed to ascertain their correct identity, he confirmed.
The 33 suspects appeared before Giyani Magistrate’s Court today for contravention of Section 5 (4) (a) (b) and (c) read with Sec 1 of 98 (a) (1) and 99 (1) (a) of the Mineral Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 and also read with Sec 332 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 and possession of gold bearing material.
They has been remanded in custody until 13 March 2018 to allow for further police investigation, concluded Maluleke.
