Six arrested illegal miners
Six illegal miners were arrested by the Hawks during an illegal mining disruptive operations on Wednesday.
The six illegal miners aged between 22 and 68 were arrested at Batavia farm in Dwaalboom policing area. According to the Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Maluleke, through the intelligence gathered, the Polokwane based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation in collaboration with Illegal Mining Task Team, SAPS -Waterberg District and Department of Mineral Resources and Energy conducted a disruptive operation at the farm.
“When the team arrived, suspected illegal miners were found busy processing gold bearing material. The permit was asked but the suspects failed to produce one, as a result they were immediately placed under arrest,” said Maluleke.
He said that during the operation, the team managed to seize mining equipment including six jack hammers, four generators, three motor pressure pumps, two spades, one grinder, two welding machines, one electric extension cord, six hammers, one shovel, two saws, two pangas, two “bobejaan” spanners, three spanners, four drillbits, and one pick with the estimated value of over R215 450.
All the arrested suspects were expected to appear in court to face charges relating to illegal mining.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province, Major General Gopz Govender has promised to eradicate illegal mining activities in the province by extremely dealing with illegal miners in accordance with the law.
Six illegal miners
