The suspects, aged 20 to 45, were arrested for illegal mining on Friday (12/12). Two vehicles and various tools used for digging were seized, said North West police spokesperson Const. Thuto Bobelo.

Mooinooi police have intensified efforts to safeguard the community by neutralising the threat posed by illegal miners. Upon arrival in Mooinooi, the team discovered eleven men who were allegedly digging and two bakkies with rocks, suspected to be chrome.

Police charged two of the eleven suspects, who were undocumented foreign nationals, with violating Section 49 of the Immigration Act (2002).

The Natjoint team, led by Lt. Gen. Tebello Mosikili, visited the area the previous day after public outcry about heavily armed men who residents claimed were illegal miners, so-called zama zamas, operating openly and with impunity.

They claimed they were under siege as illegal miners were operating with heavily armed men near their homes. 

However, Mosikili dismissed their claims, emphasising the statements were misleading, as private security officials seen in pictures are actually valid security officials with Psira (Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority) accreditation. They were appointed by Bapo Ba Mogale to help curb illegal mining.

In the 24 hours before Thursday’s visit, three illegal miners were arrested, and ten excavators, along with other illegal mining machinery, were seized. Moskili stated police will establish a joint operational centre in Bapong to curb illegal mining.

The centre will include police officials, other law enforcement agencies, government departments, and the tribal council.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs