EMPD pounce on illegal miners
The Boksburg arrests come as the country's security agencies are grappling with an estimated 4000 illegal gold miners who are reportedly hiding underground in the North West province.
Amidst the saga of the number of illegal miners hiding underground in the North West, EMPD have, here at home, arrested eight undocumented foreign nationals aged between 23 and 35 for illegal mining and being in the country without proper documentation.
The EMPD Specialised Services unit pounced on the suspects on November 12, following a tip-off about illegal mining activities at a plot at the corner of Low and Twist streets in Villa Lisa.
The suspects were taken to the Dawn Park Police Station and their mining equipment was confiscated.
“Officers acted swiftly on the information and upon arrival nabbed the suspects, mainly from Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe,” said metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.
They are facing charges of illegal mining and being in the country illegally.
The Boksburg arrests come as the country’s security agencies are grappling with an estimated 4000 illegal gold miners who are reportedly hiding underground in a mineshaft in Stilfontein for weeks.
Law enforcement agencies have cut off food and beverage supplies in an effort to ‘smoke them out’ and then arrest them.
It’s believed that the vast majority of them are undocumented, hailing from neighbouring countries, including Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Mozambique.
Also Read: Three more killed in illegal mining turf war
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