Ten people have been arrested in connection with suspected illegal mining and the possession of suspected gold-bearing material and mining equipment during a police operation on Sunday, November 1.

According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo, the arrests were made during an Operation Vala Umgodi action that started at 08:00.

“All ten suspects are foreign nationals who are allegedly in the country illegally,” said Masondo.

Two additional suspects were issued with fines for selling liquor without a licence – one a South African national and the other a foreign national who is allegedly in the country illegally.

Mining gear and illicit alcohol seized

Items confiscated during the operation included two phendukas, 10 bags of suspected gold-bearing material weighing 12.5kg each, 76 steel balls, two fern belts, an electric motor, an electric cable, a shovel, two hammers, a gas cylinder, a cutting torch, plastic buckets, water boots, a helmet and head torches.

Police also confiscated liquor allegedly being sold without a licence.

Twelve cases have been opened, and the suspects are expected to appear in the Sabie Magistrate’s Court soon.