Central SA
Illegal mining: More arrests possible in North West─── LUCKY NKUYANE 08:29 Tue, 11 Oct 2022
More suspects involved in the illegal mining activities in the North West could be arrested soon following the arrest of 20 gun-wielding suspects and the seizure of over 15 guns and boxes of ammunition in Stilfontein near, Khuma outside Klerksdorp.
According to the police spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, the operation is ongoing and the police cannot rule out the possibility of more arrests and more seizures.
ALSO READ: Gun-wielding suspects arrested in North West
Mogale says the arrests of 20 suspects on Monday 10 October 2022, in the illegal mining-ridden town, follow weeks of surveillance into the alleged illegal mining activities of the suspects. During the raid and arrests, more items, including explosives and an undisclosed amount of money, were seized by the police. Mogale says the 20 suspects are expected to make their first appearance before the Stilfontein Magistrate's Court on Wednesday 12 October 2022.
She says they will face preliminary charges of conspiracy to commit robbery of gold, the possession of prohibited firearms, the possession of ammunition, and the contravention of the Immigration Act.
“In a continuous fight against illegal mining, the North West Hawks, assisted by members of the Hawks' Tactical Management Section, Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, District Illegal Mining Task Team, Tactical Response Team, Bidvest Protea Coin, and Harmony Gold Mine embarked on an early morning raid at a mine shaft in Stilfontein on 10 October 2022,” Mogale adds.
Meanwhile, the National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, has lauded the arrests and seizures by the multi-disciplinary team and warned that this is only just the beginning.
In August 2022, Lebeya gave updates on matters of serious crimes, including the North West illegal mining activity criminal case in 2021.
ALSO READ: Kingpin to be added in illegal mining case in North West
In October 2021, there was a shoot-out incident between the police and illegal miners in the area of Orkney in the Matlosana area, where over 80 miners were arrested by the police.
The 87 miners and their accomplices face charges of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, conspiracy to commit robbery, illegal mining, illegal possession of automatic firearms, attempted murder, and contravening the Immigration Act.
