Some of the equipment confiscated by the police during the operation.
Burgersdorp village headman, Felix Mathebula (70) was convicted and sentenced to R5 000 fine or two years imprisonment for Contravening Precious Metal Act by Lenyenye District Court last week.
The court heard that during February 2022, Polokwane based Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation together with members of the Crime Prevention attached to Maake Police Station conducted a disruptive operation addressing Ilegal mining activities at Burgersdorp village.
During the operation police found an old man processing minerals using a Phenduka refinery machine. Police requested the documents that allow him to conduct such activities. The accused was not having such documents.
He was arrested for contravening the Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005 by conducting illegal activities of processing mineral without permit to conduct such activities.
During arrest the following equipment were seized: Two water drums, two phenduka refinery machines, one bobejan spanner, three chains, two Phenduka stand, seven chisels, two hammers, four electric cables, two shovels, one spade,one digging fork,one handpick, one compressor and seven round silversteel balls.
Mathebula was brought to court where he was released on bail of R500.Through the meritorious investigation of the Hawks the accused was convicted and sentenced.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender praised the investigators and the National Prosecuting Authority for securing a sentence of this accused.
Meanwhile, the Police in the province continues to prevent and combat illicit mining activities through High Density Operation Vala Umgodi.
This was evident when several suspects were apprehended over the weekend. The suspects were arrested for various offenses, ranging from mining of precious minerals without the mining rights, possession of prohibited firearms, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of illicit drugs, theft of firearms and contravention of immigration act.
A 53-year-old male, Thomas Sibuyi has briefly appeared before Nkowa Nkowa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 28 May 2024, following his arrest at Letsitele outside Tzaneen in Mopani District for illegal mining.
It is reported that the Multidisciplinary team comprising members of the SAPS and the SANDF have during their tour of Operation arrested a 53-year-old male while he was busy digging and packaging precious minerals at illegal mining illegal mining site.
In addition two accused persons Bright Tombo and Pervival Chigagwa were remanded in custody when they appeared before Nkowa Nkowa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday 28 May for illegal mining. Their cases were remanded to 5th June 2024 for formal bail application.
Thomas was released on bail, and the case was postponed to 24 June 2024, awaiting investigation results.
The team managed to confiscate the mining equipment that included shovels, spades, iron bars, and bags full of precious metals and a pocket scale at illegal mining sites.
The police have through intelligence driven operation arrested a foreign national 41-year-old male Danial Ibeto for possession of illicit drugs crystal meth, rock, and cocaine at his place of residence at Mokopane in Waterberg District .He appeared in court on Tuesday 28 May 2024 and the case was postponed to 31 May 2024 for formal bail application.
In a separate incident, the teams have arrested two male suspects aged 21 and 32 years Fedrick Mala and Max Reynders for unlawful possession firearm with ammunition and thef of firearm respectively.It is reported that the duo were arrested in Mokopane, having been found in possession of a 9mm pistol that has a visible serial number with empty magazines and five live shotgun ammunition.
Additionally, thirty-two foreign nationals were arrested in separate locations within the five districts including the Beitbridge Port of Entry. During the High Density Operation in the night of Saturday 25 May until the early hours of Sunday for contravention of immigration act and the arrested individuals have appeared before various Magistrate’s Courts and as a result of the Court order they were deported back to their countries of origin by the Immigration Officers from Department of Home Affairs.