Police destroy more than 100 phendukas in White River
The SAPS confiscated some illegal mining equipment around Sabie and Pilgrim’s Rest, and said it would continue to monitor the illegal mining hotspots in these areas.
More than 100 phendukas were confiscated from illegal miners in Sabie and Pilgrim’s Rest on Wednesday April 10.
According to a provincial police spokesperson, Captain Magonseni Nkosi, destroying the phendukas was part of Operation Vala Umgodi, which aims to curb illegal mining in the province. He said the equipment had been confiscated from across various areas between Sabie and Pilgrim’s Rest, from November last year up until now.
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“We will leave no stone unturned when it comes to illegal mining, and destroying this equipment is but one of our efforts to do so. Today alone we are destroying more than 100 pieces of equipment found around these two towns. We are also warning other illegal miners that we are coming for them. They should rather quit now or surrender their equipment to the police,” he said.
Operation Vala Umgodi will continue to clamp down on illegal mining and monitor illegal mining hotspots.
