25 alleged illegal miners in arrested in the North West

Twenty-five suspects were arrested in two separate incidents in the North West province for their alleged involvement in illegal mining.

The suspects were arrested in Mooinooi near Rustenburg and Stilfontein in Klerksdorp and will appear in two separate courts.

North West Police say the suspects were arrested during Operation “Vala Umgodi”. Some of the suspects face an additional charge of contravening the Immigration Act.

Provincial police spokesperson Adéle Myburgh says, “In Stilfontein on Thursday, 19 September 2024, police were allegedly called to a local mine shaft, after mine security reported that they apprehended illegal miners on level 10. Six illegal miners were found and on searching the suspects, seven pieces of Alma gum were found, hidden in the dreadlocks of one of the suspects. In another arrest on Friday, police were called back to the same shaft in Stilfontein, where six more illegal miners were found on level 14. A backpack with more Alma gum was found inside during the search.”

VIDEO | Illegal mining threatens SA’s economy:

#sapsNW North West police arrested more than 20 suspects in separate incidents during Vala Umgodi operations between 19 and 20 September 2024. #IllegalMining MLhttps://t.co/yusx6J1jsr pic.twitter.com/BLWXji00HV

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 22, 2024