LIMPOPO – Law enforcement officers are clamping down on illegal miners in the province as 12 men have been arrested in two seperate incidents.
According to a statement by Limpopo Hawks Spokesperson, Capt Matimba Maluleke, eight men between the age of 31 and 65, were arrested at Hlaneki, Mapuve and Mavalani villages outside Giyani, on Thursday.
Maluleke said the arrests were made by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
The eight suspects appeared in the Giyani Magistrate’s Court today for contravening the Precious Metal Act 37 of 2005 and were remanded in custody until 14 May for formal bail application.
“The Hawks, the SAPS Public Order Police, Tactical Response Team, National Intervention unit, Local Criminal Record Centre, Explosives Unit, Crime Intelligence, Air Wing, K9, South African National Defence Force, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Mineral Resources, Department of Water and Sanitation conducted simultaneous disruptive operations which focused on illegal mining at the three villages, where the integrated team confiscated a generator, hose pipes, saws, electric cables, hammers, 9mm live ammunition, gold nuggets, bags full of gold bearing material, pendukas and a grinder,” a statement reads.
Maluleke said the suspects were found processing gold when they were apprehended.
Meanwhile, four suspects between the age of 20 and 38 were arrested after members of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit led an intelligence-driven joint operation in the Driekop policing area.
They were arrested on 7 May at around 01:00 after they were caught loading chrome, according to a statement by Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo.
“The police confiscated one truck with a trailer and a Mercedes Benz C220,” the statement said.
Mojapelo added that they appeared before the Praktiseer Magistrate’s Court today, 8 May on charges of illegal mining and the possession of suspected stolen chrome. They will on 15 May formally apply for bail.
Police investigations are still continuing.
