Police in the North West have applauded the ongoing Vala Umgodi Operation, as it continues to bear fruits at some of the troubled mining areas in the province.
This follows the arrest of twelve illegal miners in Witrandjie near Sun City and Kroondal outside Rustenburg.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone the suspects aged between 20 and 47 were arrested in operations conducted in the two areas and they were charged for various crimes.
Mokgwabone said all the suspects are illegal immigrants.
“Two arrests were affected in Witrandjie village while 10 were held in Kroondal, where a man was also fined R1 500 for employing illegal immigrants.
The suspects are from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Malawi,” said Mokgwabone.
He highlighted that the suspects appeared at the Mogwase and Rustenburg Magistrates’ Courts respectively.
“The pair that appeared in Mogwase, was remanded in custody until 7 April for bail application.
Of the ten accused who appeared in Rustenburg, six were remanded in custody and will return to court on different dates this month and next month, while four were found guilty of contravention of the Immigration Act and were each sentenced to a fine of R5 000 or three-months imprisonment,” explained Mokgwabone.
Police said the suspects were found in possession of equipment that they were allegedly using for illegal mining.
“During the operations, the team seized items such as shovels, jackhammers, generators, a water pump, and chrome material weighing nearly 13 kg,” said Mokgwabone.
Meanwhile, acting provincial Police Commissioner Major General Patrick Asaneng has applauded the Vala Umgodi Operation team members for their persistent efforts in the fight against illicit mining and related crimes.