More than 200 alleged illegal miners, commonly known as zama-zamas, have been arrested during an ongoing operation at an open field near Sibanye-Stillwater’s Losberg Shaft in Westonaria in Tuesday.
Gauteng Police Deputy Commissioner Fred Kekana confirmed the latest figure during Operation Prosper, an integrated operation involving the police, the South African National Defence Force and mine security personnel.
The operation was still under way on Tuesday, with scores of suspects lying face-down on the ground while officers processed them. Their hands had been restrained with cable ties.
Police also recovered groceries, pendukas, gas cylinders and other supplies allegedly found inside the mine shafts. Authorities believe the items were used by illegal miners while underground.
Kekana said most of those arrested were foreign nationals.
“Over 107 of them are Lesotho nationals, over 56 are Mozambicans, four are Zimbabweans and over 21 are South Africans,” he said.
More than 120 rounds of AK-47 ammunition were also seized during the operation.
“One of the South Africans was found in possession of more than 120 AK-47 rounds of ammunition,” Kekana said.
He said law-enforcement agencies had been investigating the group for more than six months before moving in.
Operation Prosper remains under way.
