Mpumalanga SAPS’s Operation Shanela has yielded a positive outcome after the arrests of 15 suspects for contravention of the Immigration Act, as well as a South African citizen for the illegal possession of gold-bearing soil.

The arrests were made in Sabie on December 14.

According to a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, two females and 14 males between the ages of 18 and 50 were cornered as the operation was rolled out.

“Among the 15 who were not in possession of valid documentation to be in the country, four originate from Malawi, five are from Mozambique and six are from Zimbabwe.

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“The police are working collaboratively with the Department of Home Affairs on this matter. In addition, the police managed to also arrest a 28-year-old male suspect for illegal possession of gold-bearing soil during the operation,” Mohlala said.

He said the police confiscated items suspected to be used in illegal mining activities. These two generators, two phendukas, a soil detector, 10 shovels, 25 dagga plants, a medium solar panel, two torches, one and a half welding electrodes, a toy gun and a holster, as well as two 50kg bags of gold-bearing soil.

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“All suspects are expected to appear in the Sabie Magistrate’s Court on Monday December 18 facing these charges,” he said.