Local News
No arrest after police seized R500 000's food intended for illegal miners in Welkom─── CHRISTAL-LIZE MULLER 11:09 Mon, 06 Jun 2016
Welkom - Police in the Free State have not yet arrested anyone in connection with packed food parcels believed to be intended for illegal miners that were confiscated at a mine shaft in Welkom at the weekend.
Police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, says members of a local security company were observing the St. Helena mine premises on Saturday morning just after 01:30 when they noticed a bakkie off-loading people. According to Thakeng a large truck arrived shortly thereafter and parked next to a vent shaft of St. Helena’s tenth shaft.
Thakeng says the truck parked at the spot where food is usually left for illegal miners underground. The truck driver ran away when security officers approached the vehicle. The food parcels and cigarettes are believed to be worth almost half a million rand.
Thakeng says a case of conspiracy to commit a crime on mine property has been registered. Packets of peanuts, 500 ml cans of Coke and Stoney, Strawberry Cream Biscuits and Bull Brand were confiscated. He says the name, Themba Kaba, was written on the food parcels. He is believed to be the person who was intended to receive the delivery through the vent shaft.
Thakeng says Instant Ace porridge packets and packets of 20’s Rothmans cigarettes were also seized by police.
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