Mpumalanga police confiscate illegal mining equipment during Operation Vala Umgodi
The SAPS said this operation in Sabie is a step towards decreasing illegal mining. No arrests were made, but the officers seized some of the miners’ equipment.
A well co-ordinated Operation Vala Umgodi, which is comprised of various police disciplines, once again produced successful results in Sabie on March 21.
According to a provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, some illegal miners were left without operating equipment as a number of phendukas, electric motors, gas bottles and some other items, including gold-bearing materials, were seized by this formidable team.
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“This time around, the team focused on identified areas such as Nkanini, Simile’s informal settlement in Sabie, where alleged gold-bearing materials are said to be processed by illegal miners. The police officers circled the area, however, the alleged suspects fled the scene. It was during this period that the team found the illegal miners had left behind some equipment in their backyards,” he said.
“The police are convinced that, by the confiscation of these items, illegal mining activities will start to subside. The seized items were taken for further investigation.”
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The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, has sent a stern warning to anyone who carries out illegal mining activities, and said it is just a matter of time before they are arrested.
