Illegal miners had their equipment confiscated near the Knights railway station.
As part of the South African government’s mission to combat illegal mining operations in the country, members of various law enforcement agencies in Ekurhuleni district blitzed some of the known illegal mining sites within the Reiger Park policing precinct yesterday (November 21).
Local police stations, Gauteng crime prevention wardens, community patrollers and Prasa security joined forces and descended on the disused mining ground along Commissioner Street in Reiger Park.
They also proceeded to the mine dump near Knights railway station – where groups of people search for gold deposits.
Fearing arrest, the illegal miners, known as zama-zamas, were seen running helter-skelter as members of the team approached the mining field.
Officers apprehended 12 suspected illegal miners, who had their mining equipment, including pendukas and a generator, confiscated.
The suspects face charges related to illegal mining and being in the country illegally.
Following a chase, officers confiscated the illegal miners’ equipment.
Last week, in Villa Lisa, the EMPD Specialised Services unit pounced on eight suspected illegal miners – who were also found to be in the country illegally.
These groups are believed to be dominated by migrants who enter the country illegally from neighbouring countries, including Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Scenes from the mining site in Knights
Scenes from the mining site.Police approach the mining site.Scenes from the mining site near the railway line in Knights.
The Boksburg arrests come at the time as the country’s security agencies are embroiled in a standoff with an estimated thousands of illegal miners who are reportedly hiding underground at an abandoned mine in Stilfontein, North West province.
