Nearly 2 000 arrested during nationwide Vala Umgodi operations in April

Police claim that 1 857 people were arrested across the country in April through Operation Vala Umgodi.

The joint operation between the South African Police Service (Saps), South African National Defence Force, and other relevant departments targets illegal mining activities and other associated crimes.

Suspects from across the country were arrested for illegal mining-related offences and other crimes such as murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of explosives and possession of counterfeit goods.

More than 100 unpolished diamonds

Saps spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said police also seized more than 100 unpolished diamonds during three separate operations in and around Kleinzee and Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.

This seizure, which included suspected diamond stones, led to the arrest of 15 illegal miners.

Other items that were seized during April’s Vala Umgodi operations are 27 unlicensed firearms; 385 rounds of ammunition; 75 vehicles, including sedans, bakkies, trucks, big mining machineries, trailers and tractors; 341 phendukas (mining equipment) and six phenduka stands.

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April highlights include

• Free State:

Saps’ bomb disposal and explosive experts, with support from a private security company, seized 290 detonators. These explosives were allegedly left abandoned by illegal miners at Kopanong mine.

• Gauteng:

Police nabbed 10 illegal miners during an operation in Primrose and Rietvlei on 21 April. Eight suspects were arrested in Primrose during a joint operation in Marathon/Rasta informal settlement.

The suspects were in possession of equipment such as phendukas, steel balls, gas cylinders and generators. Two of them were also found in possession of unlicensed firearms and live ammunition.

• KwaZulu-Natal:

Five suspects, found in possession of R1.5 million worth of Eskom property, were arrested in the vicinity of Empangeni and Mtunzini policing precincts on 6 April.

• Limpopo:

Police nabbed 69 illegal miners and undocumented foreign nationals in and around Sekhukhune, Vhembe, Mopani, and Capricorn Districts between 12 and 13 April. Various illegal mining equipment was also seized.

• Mpumalanga

A total of 38 suspects were arrested on 6 April during an operation carried out in the Simile informal settlement in Sabie and the Skoonplaas informal settlement in Pilgrim’s Rest.

• North West:

On 23 and 24 April, police arrested 21 suspects in Witrandjue village near Sun City and Majakanebg village outside Brits for contravening the Immigration Act of 2002. The suspects appeared in the Brits and Mogwase Magistrate’s Courts on 24 April.

The Brits Magistrate’s Court found three of them guilty and sentenced them to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of R2 000 wholly suspended. The other 18 suspects remain in custody until their next individual court appearances.

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Operation Vala Umgodi progress

“Since its inception in December 2023, more than 20 000 suspects have been arrested while over 600 firearms, that include imitation firearms (toy guns), and 14 000 rounds of ammunition have been seized through Vala Umgodi operations,” Van Wyk said.

“Uncut diamonds worth more than R32 million are amongst various minerals recovered during these operations.”