Eleven illegal miners were arrested in the mountains of Thlabina near Ramodike Dam in the Maake area recently.

The arrest was a joint operation between Tzaneen Cluster, Hawks, Air Wing, POPS, the Department of of Minerals and Energy, the Department of Water and Sanitation, Crime Prevention members and CIG.

Read: VIDEO: Illegal mining destroying nature next to KNP

The arrested suspects appeared before the Lenyenye Magistrate Court on Tuesday November 28.

Meanwhile the Department of Water and Sanitation had organised a consultation meeting with traditional leaders on matters of illegal sand mining scourge but was later cancelled until further notice.