Illegal mining equipment to the value of more than R1 million and dagga with the street value of about R35 000 was seized by the Roodepoort Police during an operation this morning in Matholesville in an effort to clamp down on the illegal mining trade.
Col André Laing said about 12 penduka bins, miners headlamps, hammers, buckets and more were confiscated and 22 suspects were arrested. He said the police also found dynamite and explosive devices in the miners’ possession. “The miners erect a structure that allows them to descend into a makeshift mine after they blasted a hole with the explosive devices. They collect as many stones inside the mine as possible and fill the panduka, together with steel balls, where it is grind into a powder,” Laing said. “The dust, mixed with water, mercury and acid, is left to settle. They then use gas burners to extract the gold from the stones,” Laing explained.
He added that they also used stolen Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) pipes for illegal water connections from the shacks in Matholesvilles. Another method the illegal miners use is a steel ball at the end of a pipe to grind the pebbles.
“The dagga was found in the vicinity of where the miners live. The dagga is smoked to enhance their energy levels to continue with the illegal mining trade.” Laing said by confiscating the dagga takes away their motivation to work.
The suspects were charged and detained at the Roodepoort Police Station.
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