Multiple people arrested in Sabie and Pilgrim’s Rest during Operation Vala Umgodi
Multi-disciplinary teams arrested multiple people during Operation Vala Umgodi in an effort to crack down on illegal mining in Sabie and Pilgrim's Rest on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27.
The police arrested one man, an illegal immigrant who was allegedly in possession of explosives, in Sabie on Friday April 26, and 11 illegal immigrants, suspected to be illegal miners, in Pilgrim’s Rest on Saturday April 27, during Operation Vala Umgodi.
A provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said the first arrest came about after the police had received information about a man who allegedly had explosives.
A multidisciplinary team comprised of members of Operation Vala Umgodi, the Sabie SAPS, law enforcement officers of Thaba Chweu Local Municipality and a private security company were deployed to Enkanini, Simile, in Sabie, where they arrested this 39-year-old Mozambican man.
He said the man was cornered hiding in a shack. A search of the shack was carried out and four pieces of explosives were recovered. He said the team also found gold-bearing materials and illegal mining equipment.
ALSO READ: SAPS warns of criminals robbing from vehicles in Mbombela
The suspect was charged with the unlawful possession of explosives as well as contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa.
Investigators are working in collaboration with officials from the Department of Home Affairs. The man is expected to appear in the Sabie Magistrate’s Court on Monday April 29.
Meanwhile, the Operation Vala Umgodi and home affairs team started its operation in Pilgrim’s Rest at about 03:00 on Saturday morning.
Some suspected illegal miners managed to evade arrest, but they did leave behind 28 rounds of live ammunition.
ALSO READ: High court orders Nkomazi Local Municipality to repair raw sewage leaks
He said 34 phendukas, 45 sachets of dagga, eight fan belts, three electric motors, three gas cylinders and two generators were also found, believed to have been abandoned by the illegal miners.
ALSO READ: Illegal mining equipment seized in Pilgrim’s Rest, six arrested
However, 11 undocumented persons, aged between 18 and 35, were arrested later during the operation. Among them, 10 are Mozambican nationals and one a Zimbabwean. The suspects are expected to appear in the Pilgrim’s Rest Magistrate’s Court on Monday April 29.
