Local News
Forum to combat illegal mining launched at Welkom─── 18:37 Thu, 24 Apr 2014
Duane Petrus
Welkom - A forum dedicated to combating illegal mining and other crimes related to this, will be launched by the Minister of Police in Welkom tomorrow.
Free State police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, says Welkom has the highest number of crime incidents related to mining. He added that they regularly confiscate illegal gold bearing material amounting to millions of rand.
He added that many of the offenders target closed mines and break the seals to gain access.
Thakeng says Nathi Mthethwa along with provincial commissioner, Simon Mpembe and MEC Butana Komphela will attend the launch.
The majority of the illegal miners, or Zama Zamas, are from neighbouring countries Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Mozambique.
The majority of the illegal miners, or Zama Zamas, are from neighbouring countries Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Mozambique.
Stephen Thakeng:
