Alleged Illegal miners caught
DENNILTON/APEL – The Vala Umgodi Task Team in Sekhukhune district nabbed a 42 year-old man after he was caught loading illegally mined sand onto a truck at Rameleteng Village within the Dennilton policing area earlier this week.
The arrest of the suspect was effected alongside disruptive operations conducted by the team and targeted at troublesome spots across the district.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police spokesperson, revealed that four shovels and a pick were confiscated during the apprehension of the 42 year-old suspect.
Three other suspects aged between 30 and 45 were arrested for the same crime following similar operations in the Apel area.
A section of the 669 suspects arrested during the Vala Umgodi operations in various districts of the province between 4 and 5 January were nabbed for illegal mining of sand.
Others were arrested for crimes ranging from possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunitions, contravention of the Immigration Act, possession and dealing in drugs, possession of suspected stolen vehicles, possession of counterfeit goods, to assaults.
Ledwaba said 38 live rounds of ammunitions, three magazines and nine vehicles were confiscated in the process.
The joint operations involved the Department of Home Affairs, South African National Defence Force and the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy.
Ledwaba pointed out that the aim is to ensure that stability and safety prevail in the mining environment throughout the province.
The Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has lauded the members of the operations for their commitment and dedication to ensure that illegal mining is eradicated and more boots are on the ground to deal harshly with criminal acts in the mining areas.
General Hadebe reiterated that illegal mining is a crime and urged residents continue giving the police information that leads to the arrests of perpetrators by using the crime stop number 08600 10111 or the MySAPSAapp anonymously.
