The Lejweleputswa Knock-out team arrested 59 suspects in cases such as trespassing, possession of gold-bearing material and illegal mining. Of these, 57 were illegal immigrants.
On Monday, 16 September, the team, together with private security, conducted illicit mining disruptive action near a local mine shaft and recovered bags filled with gold-bearing material. Two suspects were arrested.
Later on the same day, at 20:00, they conducted disruptive action at a mine near Theunissen. They arrested two males, aged 34 and 36, for possession of suspected stolen copper cables and possession of possible gold-bearing material.
Two more men were arrested for possession of gold-bearing material.
“On another occasion, the team and private security conducted illicit mining disruptive action near a pipeline and recovered illicit mining equipment after the suspects abandoned it,” says Capt. Loraine Earle, spokesperson for the SAPS in the Free State.
Earle says that with the high number of illegal immigrants arrested during the operation, most are being sentenced by the courts and taken back to their countries.
The multidisciplinary operation continues, running concurrently with other illicit mining operations.
The Lejweleputswa Knock-out team’s fight against illicit mining carries on in the same momentum as previous weeks.
“The successes of the Knock-out Operations illustrate the SAPS’s commitment to maintaining law and order and protecting our natural resources in our efforts to combat illegal mining and the associated criminal activities,” says Earle.
The multidisciplinary operation’s focus remains on intelligence-driven strategies to dismantle illegal operations and ensure accountability for those involved.
“The team’s tactical approach has brought many suspects to book, and most were arrested while in the act of illegal mining,” she says.
