Ten men suspected of being involved in illegal mining on a farm outside of Welkom were arrested, and their vehicles and excavators have been confiscated.
Members of Public Order Policing (POP) and the Tactical Response team (TRT) received intelligence-driven information on 20 June, which led to the arrests.
The operation was done in conjunction with a manager of the Department of Mineral Resources. It is the mandate of this department to inspect the mining environment.
“The samplers of gold-bearing material, dump truck operators, mechanics and excavator operators who were out on the farm Vaalbank, were asked to provide legal documents to mine in the area.
“They could not provide the required documentation to mine legally, and the operation of these experts was declared illegal,” says Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa police.
The police arrested 2 dump truck operators, 3 mechanics, 1 excavator operator, and 4 samplers of gold-bearing material for mining illegally, as well as possession of 26 bags of gold-bearing material found inside a white bakkie.
Thakeng say excavators, dump trucks and three bakkies were seized.
On the same farm, a 68-year-old shepherd was arrested for possession of gold-bearing material.
Eight of the men appeared in the Welkom Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 24 June, and were each granted bail of R1 000.
Thakeng says the charges against three suspects were withdrawn.
The case has been postponed until 23 August for further investigation. By order of the court, the seized property will not be returned.
