Suspect nabbed for illegal possession of chrome

ATOK – A 38 year-old suspect have been arrested by the Limpopo Highway Patrol (LHP) team and chrome worth an estimated street value of half a million rands seized on Wednesday 11 January 2023 while travelling along the R37 Road next to Atok within the Apel policing precinct outside Burgersfort.

Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, said the police were performing normal patrol duties when they spotted an overloaded tipper truck travelling in the direction of Burgersfort at about 23:00.

Ledwaba indicated that driver was questioned about the load and he informed the police that he was transporting the chrome that was allegedly gathered by illegal miners at a mine in Atok.

He added that the suspect was arrested immediately and the truck was also confiscated. The suspect, Mahabe Ernest Seroka appeared before the Sekhukhune Magistrates Court on Friday, 13 January 2023 on unlawful possession of precious metals, chrome, and was remanded in custody until Thursday, 19 January 2023 (today) for further investigation and bail application.

Meanwhile, on Saturday 14 January, police informed that six of the eight bodies of the illegal miners, including that of a South African, who were trapped underground from Friday, 06 January 2023 and died while digging chrome at Ga-Maroga Village outside Burgersfort, were taken by their families members.

Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, said that there were still two bodies that had not been claimed, that of a Mozambican and Zimbabwean, but processes were underway.

A South African, three Mozambicans and four Zimbabweans were allegedly busy with illegal mining activities when water coming from heavy rains that fell in the area apparently pushed the soil that blocked the only point they used as entry and exit and they suffocated .

Police were called on Saturday 07 January 2023 night and upon arrival, they reportedly found that the local community members had already dug a hole and gained access to the miners, having started to retrieve the bodies.

At the time, the Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe warned community members to desist from engaging in illegal mining activities as that was unsafe and also against the law.

General Hadebe indicated that as a province they have established a team to deal with illegal mining activities around the province, especially in the areas along the R37 Road in Sekhukhune District and that many illegal miners have been arrested and mining equipment confiscated.

Charges in terms of the Immigration Act were preferred against the seven deceased as they were in the country illegally. A case of illegal mining was also registered against all of them.