Operation Vala Umgodi officers nab five Mozambican nationals in Pilgrim’s Rest
The police recovered some equipment used for illegal mining when they arrested the suspects.
Five Mozambican nationals, aged between 26 and 50, are expected to appear in the Pilgrim’s Rest Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, January 30.
They were arrested after the police had received a tip-off that some people were conducting illegal mining activities at Columbia Hill in Pilgrim’s Rest on Tuesday, January 28.
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The suspects were also charged with the contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa.
“We received information that some alleged illegal mining activities were taking place in the area. We managed to arrest five illegal immigrants after they failed to produce documents to be in the country,” said a provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Jabu Ndubane.
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She said the police recovered 144 phendukas, which are hand-operated cylinders used in illegal mining, and 22 industrial generators.
“As the phendukas and generators couldn’t be brought down from the steep mountain due to the difficult terrain, the exhibits were destroyed,” said Ndubane.
