Ten foreign nationals and one South African citizen suspected of illegal mining were arrested today, December 24 in Westonaria.

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that an AK-47 rifle, four pistols and ammunition were seized.

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The South African national was arrested for harbouring illegal immigrants and defeating the ends of justice.

The arrests followed a random search conducted by security officers from a nearby mine. They stormed two houses, where they found eight suspected illegal miners. A search of the suspects led to the recovery of three loaded unlicensed firearms and a bottle believed to contain mercury. Two additional suspects were arrested nearby after they were found in possession of an AK-47 rifle with 31 rounds of ammunition and a pistol with four rounds.

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Masondo added that preliminary investigations revealed the suspects were tenants of the same South African citizen, who was subsequently identified and arrested for harbouring illegal immigrants.

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“The suspects will be profiled and the firearms will be taken for ballistic tests to determine if they were used in the commission of other crimes, including the shooting that occurred in Bekkersdal on December 21,” said Masondo.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Westonaria Magistrate’s Court on December 29.