Twelve arrested in Limpopo’s Vala Umgodi Operations
DIKGALAOPENG
Twelve suspects, from various parts of the district in Limpopo Province including Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Mopani, were apprehended for illegal mining activities following Vala Umgodi Police Operations conducted on Monday 7 April 2025.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, said in Sekhukhune District, eight suspects, aged between 28 and 73, were arrested separately at Dikgalaopeng Village in the Motetema Policing area for illegal mining of sand.
“During both incidents, the police members were patrolling the area when they spotted a group of people loading sand in the trucks. They were approached, and they did not have permits to mine sand at the area. The police arrested the suspects and confiscated a red Massey Ferguson tractor with a green trailer and cream-white Mercedes Benz truck, shovels, pickaxes and spades,” explained Ledwaba.
He added that in another incident that occurred at Mvelaphanda Village in Dzondo River, at Vuwani Policing area, the police arrested one suspect, aged 42, for illegal mining.
“Two more suspects, one aged 22 and the other aged 53, were also arrested for illegal mining of sand at Tshino Village in the Vuwani Policing area. Different items such as a panga, cellphones, spades and wheelbarrows, amongst other items were confiscated,” said Ledwaba.
He furthered said meanwhile, in Giyani, one suspect, aged 47, was arrested for illegal mining and contravention of Immigration Act.
“During the arrest the police confiscated a bag of suspected gold minerals, shovels, spades, and pickaxes. The arrested suspects will soon appear before their local magistrate’s courts in the province. The police investigations are ongoing,” he said.
