Police clamp down on illegal mining in Gauteng West Rand

In continued efforts to dismantle illegal mining operations in the Rand West City municipal area, police have arrested 31 illegal miners and undocumented persons yesterday.

The arrests forms part of Operation Shanela that were held in different parts of the area including Mohlakeng.

The operation was led by Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela together with Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection Major General Mbuso Khomalo and West Rand District Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana.

According to Mawela, they are happy with the work done.

“We are in another part of Gauteng and we’ve established that this is a fully established mining operation. They [illegal miners] have been operating freely here, as the place is away from the public eye and they know that our patrol vehicles won’t normally come and patrol a jungle for no apparent reason.

“We usually concentrate on the built-up areas but through our intelligence, we were informed that this is another area where these people [illegal miners] are operating and we are grateful for what our teams have achieved.

“In another site, we’ve seen that eight of those illegal miners were arrested but the total of arrests made for this operation is 31 and this comprises of undocumented persons and those who are conducting illegal mining,” said Mawela.