Illegal mining equipment seized during the arrests.

Police arrested another ten illegal miners in Skeerpoort last week.
“Ten suspects were arrested during the “Vala Umgodi” operation in Hartbeespoortdam on 9 and 10 June and appeared in Brits Magistrates on Tuesday, 11 June 2024, on charges of contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002. They were in custody until Tuesday, 18 and Thursday, 20 June 2024, for interpreters respectively,” said police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani.
The suspects included Zimbabwe and Mozambique foreign nationals. The police seized illegal mining equipment that included a phenduka machine and motor, chains and hammers.
This is the fourth police operation in the same area this year. Over 100 suspects have been arrested to date.
In February, 94 suspects were arrested after police and the South African Defense Force pounced on illegal mining in this area. During the arrest, the team seized large quantities of gold-bearing material, 139 generators worth R1.3 million and illegal mining equipment. In April six more suspects were arrested during another police operation and equipment was seized.
Police arrested 22 suspects in May in Skeerpoort during a police operation. “The suspects in Hartbeespoort were arrested for contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002). They are foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone at the time.
During the operations, a team that comprised various units of the police, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Brits Immigration officials, seized equipment that included three Supersonic generators, 20 generators, extension cords, 11 jackhammers, pressure pumps, 16 phendukas, water pumps and gas cylinders.
The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrests and confiscation of illegal mining equipment.