False tip-off leads police to alarming discovery
A group of people were also found to be illegally living in the area.
A tip-off about an illegal gun led to the discovery of suspected illegal mining activities and the development of an informal settlement in an area near Boundary Road in Brenthurst.
Brakpan SAPS Sector One manager/communications officer Constable Audrey Buthelezi and the CPF’s armed reaction team responded to the tip-off last Tuesday but instead of finding an illicit firearm, the law enforcers happened upon illegal actions in an open field where three men were excavating the land.
“The trio was using spades and picks, which they left on the ground as soon as they realised they were encircled,” said Buthelezi.
The officer and the reaction team discovered pits all over the site, some of which looked like access to a mining shaft.
“The three men were nowhere to be seen. Tools were confiscated and booked in,” said Buthelezi.
She told the Brakpan Herald that just a few metres from the illegal excavations, a few tents were found pitched nearby.
The tents’ inhabitants explained they have been residing there for over a year.
“The site is filthy with scrap all over and they say the tents are becoming more, meaning soon they will be a community,” said Buthelezi.
“They were advised that they have occupied the land illegally and were given a time period to vacate. The area was thoroughly searched and the inhabitants verbally warned.”
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