In their efforts to curb illegal mining the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) together with police members conducted a multi-disciplinary illegal-mining operation in Matholesville on Friday September 30.
Equipment used for illegal mining which included 18 phendukas and three municipal dustbins were impounded.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla confirmed that three undocumented men were arrested during the operation and were detained at the Roodepoort police station.
Illegal mining is detrimental to the environment; it can cause the ground to collapse resulting in the loss of life – and it is against the law.
“We urge members of the public who witness or have any information regarding illegal mining to report it to the police,” said Fihla.
Recently six bodies, some mutilated and believed to be of zama zamas (illegal miners), were found scattered along the N1 highway near the Maraisburg offramp.
After the horrific gang-rape incident at a mine dump in Krugersdorp hundreds of illegal miners have been arrested on the West Rand in the past month.
