31 illegal miners nabbed outside Krugersdorp

Kagiso police acting station commander Colonel Peter Mabuso has vowed to continue their fight against illegal miners.

He spoke after Kagiso police officers removed illegal miners from Rietvallei outside Krugersdorp, recently.

Kagiso police spokesperson Captain Solomon Sibiya said in a statement they removed these illegal miners who have chosen to defy orders by police and local authorities to stop their illegal-mining activities.

The operation comprised of local crime-prevention police, National Public Order Policing, the National Intervention Unit, mounted unit, infrastructure unit, the West Rand K9 unit and Sibanye Stillwater.

“The operation not only focused on arrests but also on shutting down shafts and holes from which the law transgressors were operating using a TLB and a truck to load illegal mining equipment,” explained Captain Sibiya.

The illegal mining equipment that was confiscated included 23 phendukas, 59 bags of soil, gas bottles, cutting torches, water pumps, shovels, electric cords, electric motors, steel balls and three giant generators.

“Such operations will be sustainable and intensified until we are satisfied that these perpetrators are no more in existence – no matter how long this will take, we won’t rest,” said Mabuso.

Deputy President David Mabuza recently told Parliament that illegal mining has ‘grown to the point where it is a major source of concern’.

“Illegal mining is not only a concern for the government, but also for the mining industry and the communities that are located close to illegal mining operations,” he said and announced that specialised teams will be deployed in each province to fight illegal mining.