Alleged sand miners arrested and excavator seized near Rainfarm

Two alleged illegal sand miners arrested on May 27 after weeks of environmental damage in the Umhlali River near Rainfarm will face charges of illegal mining.

While the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) confirmed on May 18 that it had not issued any mining licence or permit for sand mining, or any other commodity, at the location, it was not the department that swooped on the alleged miners. Instead, Umhlali police acted following renewed complaints from landowner Barry Chapman.

iLembe district Saps spokesperson Priya Nunkumar confirmed the arrests and the seizure of machinery.

“Police also seized an excavator at the scene that was allegedly used in the operation. Both suspects will appear in court in due course,” she said.

According to Watergate Security director André Laubuschagne, who was part of the operation, the excavator used at the site may have been stolen, as it allegedly carried a fake Vin number and the engine number had been filed off.

This is the same site inspected by the DMPR’s Janine Naidu, accompanied by police and private security partners, three weeks ago following complaints of mining activity across five privately owned properties along the Umhlali River.

At the time, no miners were present, only abandoned equipment and evidence of environmental destruction, and Naidu was therefore unable to issue an order to cease operations.
The Department of Water and Sanitation also previously confirmed that no water-use authorisations had been issued for the site, as required for the legal mining of river sand.

Last week’s arrests follow weeks of escalating tensions between landowners and the alleged illegal miners. Resident Les Coetzee previously alleged that a TLB operator tried to run him over when he confronted the group.