They were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, assisted by the Special Task Force and the District Illicit Mining Task Team. The operation was the culmination of months of surveillance after the illegal miners took control of a dormant shaft.

During the operation, a shootout between the police and the illegal miners ensued, resulting in six illegal miners being fatally wounded and eight others being injured.

Illegal mining paraphernalia, gold-bearing material, two minibuses, eleven firearms (three shotguns, four pistols, three rifles and a revolver), about 4000 cartridges of ammunition and bags of food were seized.

All the accused, who have been in custody since their arrest, pleaded guilty to charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances on Tuesday (28/3) and they were resultantly each sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

OFM News