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How to run an illegal mine, 141 ‘illegal foreigners’ arrested

Vaseline

Police, military, government and the Hawks have unearthed an illegal mine. Here’s what’s involved in running one.

The military, police and Hawks recently intervened to shut down an illegal mining operation in the northwest, arresting more than 100 suspected undocumented foreigners.

The suspects were arrested in the village of Tlhatlaganyane, just outside Rustenburg. They are expected to appear before the Mankwe Magistrates’ Court on Monday. There they are accused of violating immigration law.

The 141 suspected undocumented foreigners mainly come from Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

How to run a mine

The arrest also provided insight into the equipment needed to run a small illegal mine. Among the tools seized were 59 generators, 46 hammer drills, five gas cylinders, 49 wheelbarrows, 30 shovels and 21 spades.

Equipment seized at the mine. Image: Delivered/SAPS
Generators were found during the attack on the mine. Image: Delivered/SAPS

Police also found 13 picks, 27 hammers, four saws, a fork shovel and an extension cord.

READ ALSO: ‘The fight against illegal mining is paying off’, says Ramaphosa

The mine also operated with three heating pumps, one cylinder pipe, one tool box, three 1 liter grease cleaners and two chisels.

Wheelbarrows were among the equipment seized at the mine. Image: Delivered/SAPS

War against illegal mining

The scourge of illegal mining has spread across the country, with miners often linked to other serious crimes.

There was public outrage in 2022 after ten alleged illegal miners attacked a music video set and raped several women participating.

More recently, there have been increasing reports of miners hiring hitmen to eliminate members of rival groups.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said illegal mining was often linked to other criminal activities.

“Illegal mining is linked to other crimes such as money laundering, bribery and corruption, illicit financial flows, human and arms trafficking and other forms of organized crime,” the president said in November.

READ ALSO: Government plans to close all abandoned mines, says JCPS cluster on illegal mining

The Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster has previously highlighted the government’s focus on the issue of illegal mining.

It showed that between April and August last year, more than 7,000 suspects involved in illegal mining were arrested for breaching immigration rules.

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