POLOKWANE – The persistent disruptive operations conducted by the South African Police Service in Limpopo against illegal mining activities continue to yield positive results following the arrest of another four suspects aged between 20 and 40. The suspects were arrested at Schilpadnest, Northam policing area, on Wednesday, 03 August 2022.
Members of Limpopo SOCIU, Illegal mining task team, TRT and DMRE were on joint operation at Schilpadnest in Northam, when they arrested these four suspects for possession of minerals. They recovered a Scania Interlink truck with double trailers loaded with minerals, truck valued at R900 000-00 and minerals at R170 000-00.
The following items were found abandoned at the same mine as follows:
1. One Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) valued R1.2 Million
2. Two Excavator valued R1 Million.
3. Chrome valued R120 000-00
These latest arrests, bring the total number of illegal miners nabbed during the past two weeks, to fifty two (52). Others were arrested in Sekhukhune District under Apel and Mecklenburg policing areas.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe commends the team for arresting the suspects.
“These arrests reflect our commitment in uprooting all illegal mining activities mushrooming in our Province and shall send a strong message to these groupings that the Police will exercise zero tolerance when dealing with illegal mining,” said Lieutenant General Hadebe.
“Seeing that illegal mining activities have become a frustration to the country, arrests like these should bring comfort to our communities that the Police are capable of dealing with these illegal activities. I therefore commend the police in Northam for these latest arrests.” Concluded Lieutenant General Hadebe.
The suspects will appear before the local magistrate’s court soon.
