The suspect who become the 21st addition to the charge sheet of suspects, appeared alongside the co-accused on Wednesday 12 October 2022 in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court near Khuma outside Klerksdorp.

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According to the Hawks' national spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, the 21 suspects include 13 Lesotho nationals. Five South Africans were also apprehended following weeks of surveillance into the alleged illegal mining activities of the suspects. She says during the sting operation, police seized 15 AK47s, 6 hunting rifles, 2 shotguns and one R5, boxes full of ammunition, explosives and an undisclosed amount of money.

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The case against the accused, aged between 19 and 40 years of age, was then postponed to 18 October 2022 for verification of addresses and immigration status.

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“The twenty (20) accused who were arrested in a joint operation led by the North West Hawks on 10 October 2022 at Stilfontein mine shaft, including an additional accused, were remanded in custody. The accused are aged between 19 and 40. They were arrested by a team led by the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, 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,” Mogale adds.

Meanwhile, 88 alleged illegal miners who were arrested in Orkney on 20 October 2021, where eleven (11) firearms, ammunition, illegal mining paraphernalia, gold-bearing material and food were seized, also appeared in court on the same day. In total, 108 illegal miners appeared in court in the North West on Wednesday.

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OFM News