Shootout with illegal miners leave 6 dead

Illegal miners in Orkney met their fate with the law during an intelligence-driven operation on Wednesday night (20 October). Six died, eight were wounded and 87 were arrested after a shootout with members of the Special Task Force assisted by the Hawks Organised Crime unit in North-West.

According to Col Katlego Mogale, Hawks spokesperson in the North-West, a multi-disciplinary team comprising of the Hawks, Task Force, National Intervention Unit, District Crime Combatting Unit, NW Airwing, Explosives Unit, Bidvest Protea Coin Security and Local Criminal Record Centre descended upon the identified mine shaft where they were met by the suspects’ gunfire.

“The team returned fire wherein one of their members was wounded. The wounded suspects were taken to hospital under police guard and the team seized two minibuses, Illegal mining equipment, gold-bearing material, eleven illegal firearms (three shotguns, three rifles, four pistols, and one revolver) as well as bags of food”, says Mogale.

The suspects will appear in the Orkney Magistrates court on Monday, 25 October facing charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of gold, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, illegal possession of prohibited firearms, theft, and conspiracy to commit an offence.