A multidisciplinary team arrested nine suspected illegal miners on the R539 in Mashoboto on October 3.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said the arrests occurred amid law enforcement’s intensified operations against illegal mining in the region.

“Police are working collaboratively with officials from the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain the status of the arrested suspects in the country,” said Mdhluli.

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He added that during the operation, police recovered mining equipment and chemicals suspected to be used to refine gold-bearing material. The suspects are expected to appear in court in due course.

Gunfire and road closures

The arrests follow several closures of the busy route over the past week amid ongoing exchanges of gunfire, allegedly between rival zama zama groups, that resulted in a number of deaths.

ALSO READ: Schoemanskloof Road closed again after second body found amid illegal mining shoot-out

The latest incident occurred at around 18:00 on September 30 and continued for about 40 minutes, with residents describing the sound of the shooting as being like a war zone.

A heavy police presence has since been deployed to the area as law enforcement operations continue to address ongoing illegal mining activity and related violence.