The newly appointed director of the province's DPP, Livingstone Sakata, during a media briefing on Thursday 13 October 2022, whilst responding to OFM News' enquiry about the prevalence of illegal mining activities across the province and country, said their division is targeting to prosecute the alleged organisers or sources of the said crime.

He also mentioned that currently the national task team is tasked with the duty and responsibility of clamping down on this crime which has recently been a focal point for the police and Hawks, in particular. OFM News previously reported that a total of 300 alleged illegal miners were found digging in the Nuttabooi mining area during a joint operation that was formed in July 2022.

ALSO READ: Hundreds of illegal miners arrested in the Northern Cape - PHOTO GALLERY

Meanwhile, 108 illegal miners arrested in a separate incident in the North West appeared at the Stilfontein Magistrate's Court on Wednesday 12 October 2022.

Among the 108 gun-wielding suspects who appeared, 21 were arrested on Monday 10 October 2022. They also appeared in court for the first time since the arrests at a mine shaft where guns, 6000 rounds of ammunition and an undisclosed amount of money were seized.

According to the Hawks' national spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, the 21 suspects include 13 Lesotho nationals. Five South Africans were also apprehended following weeks of surveillance into the alleged illegal mining activities of the suspects. She says during the sting operation, police seized 15 AK47s, 6 hunting rifles, 2 shotguns and one R5, boxes full of ammunition, explosives and an undisclosed amount of money.

ALSO READ - Illegal mining: Additional suspect arrested

The case against the accused, aged between 19 and 40 years of age, was postponed to 18 October 2022 for verification of addresses and immigration status.

OFM News