A joint operation between various law enforcement agencies saw the arrest of nine alleged illegal miners and 30 generators being confiscated from a farm in Schoemanskloof on Friday.

A provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said Operation Vala Umgodi saw some SAPS members and officials from the Department of Home Affairs receiving information about illegal mining activities taking place on a mountain on the farm.

Mdhluli said upon the team’s arrival, a group of alleged illegal miners attempted to flee the scene by running into some dense bushes to evade arrest.

However, the team was able to arrest nine suspects, aged between 24 and 63.

He said seven of the suspects were arrested on charges of contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa as they were found without valid documentation to be in the country, while the other two were nabbed for possession of gold-bearing materials as well as for suspected illegal mining equipment.

The police then conducted a thorough search in the bushes and found the generators as well as eight jackhammers, three phendukas, two electric motors, two gas bottles, 13 shovels, 11 spades, 16 pickaxes, 45 chisels and 19 hammers.

They were all confiscated.