The multidisciplinary forces under operation Vala Umgodi is making a significant impact in the province. This was evident when the team conducted disruptive operations in Sekhukhune and Vhembe Districts simultaneously.
The teams comprising various units from the SAPS, SANDF, and DMRE approached various illegal mining sites and apprehended twenty-eight suspects for illegal mining and violation of illegal immigration Act. The operations took place on 03 July 2024.
At Ga-Maroga village under SAPS Driekop policing area, Sekhukhune District, the teams managed to arrest twelve suspects for illegal mining and for being in the country illegally and their ages ranges between 18 to 39 .The other two South Africans were also arrested for the illegal mining of chrome.
At Saselamani policing, in Vhembe District, fourteen suspects were arrested for illegal sand mining, and their ages range between 18 and 57 years of age.
The teams also managed to confiscate the following items:
* Three trucks
* Fifteen shovels
* Three spades
* Two size 657 batteries
* Two pangas
* One pair of keys.
* Two jackhammers
* On Black and Red coloured electrical extension.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the members for their dedication and swift action, which resulted in the arrest of the suspects.
The arrested suspects will appear before Sekhukhune Magistrate Court and Saselamane Magistrates court soon.
28 Suspects arrested in operation Vala Umgodi gaining momentum in Vhembe and Sekhukhune districts https://t.co/ZecGo6PHIf#ArriveAlive #IllegalMining #Operation @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/qayjbOH9Yu
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) July 5, 2024
