Operation Vala Umgodi pounce on illegal miners in Mopani District

The SAPS Mission Action Joint Operation Centre Roving Team deployed in Limpopo through Operation Vala Umgodi have arrested six male suspects aged between 35 and 17 for engaging in illegal mining activities on Tuesday 26 March 2024.

The Team that included National Intervention Unit, Proactive Police, Tactical Response Team and members of the SANDF have operationalised information gathered and subsequently pounced on six male suspects for digging precious metals underground at Maduba mine in Gravelotte outside Phalaborwa on Tuesday 26 March 2024 between 14:00 and 19:00.

The Police have confiscated mining equipment on site that included, phendukas, spades, jackhammers, power generators, detonators, BW Gold scale, motors, electrical cables and wheelbarrows.

In separate incidents, about 26 foreign nationals, who were found to be illegally in the country, were arrested at Driekop and Mecklenburg policing precincts in Sekhukhune District on Tuesday 26 March 2024, by the members of the SAPS and SANDF during their tour of Operation Vala Umgodi.

The Police in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs have processed the arrested illegal immigrants for a direct deportation back to their countries of origin.

The suspects are expected to appear before Namakgale Magistrate’s Court in the week facing charges of illegal mining.