The Rustenburg-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, in collaboration with the department of mineral and petroleum resources and the Illicit Mining and Infrastructure Task Team, seized four excavators and one dump truck during a disruptive operation. North West police spokesperson Lt. Col. Tinyiko Mathebula says the operation was conducted on Tuesday (4/8) at Hencor Mine in Rustenburg.

Mathebula said they received information from a security company at a mining site that there were people busy with illegal mining activities. “Upon receiving that information, we then acted swiftly.

“When we arrived at the scene, there was no one there. We just found the excavators and a dump truck, which we believe were abandoned by the illegal miners.

“No arrests have been made at this stage, but the investigation is ongoing, and we believe that we might be making arrests very soon because we are conducting interviews with the mining security personnel.”

Mathebula believes there are links between this operation and organised criminal networks involved in illegal mining. “Illegal mining, it’s an organised crime. So, people who are actually behind these operations are very powerful. We believe that through our investigation we’ll be able to get the kingpins. Because usually those who do the mining activities are actually ground workers.”

North West police spokesperson Lt. Col. Tinyiko Mathebula. Photo: Supplied

The ground workers are not the ones funding these operations. The police investigation is focussed on identifying the kingpins behind the illegal activities because addressing those running the operations is key to stopping the problem, he added.

Illegal mining remains a serious challenge in North West, with authorities conducting regular disruptive operations to combat the problem. “Stilfontein and Klerksdorp is one of the hotspot areas where we are conducting operations on a regular basis as well to address this kind of problem.”

He also believes the illegal operations are affecting nearby communities. “The illegal miners don’t have regard for community’s safety. They conduct their operations next to people’s houses, which poses a serious risk to the communities because Illegal miners are not trained to follow safety protocols.”

Mathebula said the seizure highlights the scale of illegal mining operations and the profits driving them. He said the Hawks will intensify operations to target those behind the activities, adding that illegal mining continues to put lives at risk.

“We have the constitutional duty to ensure that we strengthen our operations in Rustenburg and other hotspot areas to ensure that our communities live in a safe and secure environment.”

OFM News/Siyakholwa Mbatyazwa sm

• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline on 066 487 1427.