According to police spokesperson, Sabata Mokgwabone, more than 70 foreign nationals, who allegedly are illegal miners, were arrested.

Also read: Police deny lockdown rumours due to alleged #ZamaZama threats

According to Mokgwabone's statement, the arrested foreign nationals from the neighbouring countries of Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, are set to appear in the Orkney Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. Mokgwabone says they will face charges of trespassing, illegal mining, and the contravention of the Immigration Act. 

In October 2021, OFM News reported of a bloody shootout between security officials and the police that resulted in the deaths of miners, with over 30 of them arrested.

Also read: Ipid investigating #ZamaZama shooting

As part of clamping down on illegal mining, a multi-disciplinary team - comprising of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Illicit Mining Team, Orkney Visible Policing, the Detectives, as well as the Mining Rescue Team - rescued and ultimately apprehended 77 illegal miners from underground between Thursday 14 and Monday 18 April 2022.

The operation follows a request to the mine management by illegal miners to be assisted to get out of the mine shaft as they were starving.

Of the 77 arrested illegal miners who were all medically examined, 60 are from Lesotho, 13 from Mozambique and 4 are Zimbabwean nationals.

The District Commissioner of Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Major General Suzette Pretorius, applauded all team members for working tirelessly over the Easter weekend to rescue illegal mineworkers and ensure that they are arrested to face the full might of the law.

The issues of illegal mining in Matlosana has been a serious issue for the police and the community of Stilfontein and Orkney.

Over the years, residents of these towns in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda (DRKK) district have continued to bear the brunt of violent crime, as the shooting and killing among zama-zamas continue to grow. However, the police have managed to arrest scores of zama-zamas, both in Orkney and Stilfontein.

OFM News