The Stilfontein Magistrates’ Court in the North West, has sentenced a second batch of illegal miners for illicit mining and contravention of the Immigration Act.
The accused include ten Lesotho, four Mozambique and five Zimbabwe undocumented foreign nationals with ages between 20 and 43.
They were each handed six months imprisonment or R12 000,00 fine to each of the accused for illegal mining.
“The sentences are wholly suspended for the period of five years on condition that the accused persons are not convicted for contravention of Section 5A of Act 28 of 2002 as amended by Act 49 of 2008 and read with section 1, illegal mining committed during the period of suspension.
The accused were further sentenced to three months imprisonment or R6 000 which is wholly suspended for the period of five years on condition that they are not convicted for the same crimes during this period,” said provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone.
Following the sentences, the accused were deported to their countries of origin by the Department of Home Affairs.
According to Mokgwabone, the accused were arrested at Margaret Shaft where they resurfaced in November 2024.
