The miners were arrested during a multiple disciplinary operation to clamp down on illegal mining activities in the province. The illegal miners were arrested in the early hours of Friday at the Scott Shaft in Stilfontein. They are between the ages of 18 and 40 years. 

Hawks spokesperson Tinyiko Mathebula said among the arrested suspects, two were charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and two were charged with possession of unwrought gold to the value of approximately R100 000. 

Other items recovered from the scene included three rifles, ammunition, unwrought precious metals, food items, medicine, and gold refining paraphernalia. 

Illegal miners were arrested on Friday at the Scott Shaft in Stilfontein. Picture supplied

“One suspect was allegedly shot and injured during a shootout with the police and was rushed to hospital. An inquest docket is being investigated after one suspect died soon after he was found hanging from a shaft.”

The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit was assisted by the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section, Local Criminal Record Centre, and Explosives Unit, Illegal Mining Task Team, National Intervention Unit, ER24, Harmony Gold Mine, and Bidvest Protea Coin to conduct a disruptive operation in the early hours of Friday (18/8). 

The suspects are also facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Picture supplied

All 30 suspects are expected to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday (21/8), facing charges of illegal mining, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, illegal possession of gold, and conspiracy to commit an offence.

Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Patrick Mbotho;commended the team’s effort in ensuring that the illegal miners are brought to book. He vowed that North West Hawks will intensify these disruptive operations to curb illegal mining activities in the province.

In 2022, 89 illegal miners were arrested in Stilfontein.

In October 2021, there was a shoot-out incident between the police and illegal miners at Orkney when more than 80 miners were arrested by the police.

The minister of police visited the same area to address the issue of illegal mining.

This was Bheki Cele’s second visit to the province following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Imbizo earlier this year, where issues of crime, including illegal mining, drug peddling, robbery, rape, and murder, among others, were raised by irate residents. 

His visit will also put the illegal mining activities in the spotlight with residents having complained and raised concerns, not only in Stilfontein but in surrounding areas including Orkney.

OFM News