Ten men suspected of being involved in illegal mining have been arrested and their vehicles and excavators were confiscated.
Members of Public Order Policing and Tactical Response team received intelligence driven information on 20 June, which led to the arrests.
The operation was done in conjunction with a manager of 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 escavator 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 two dump truck operators, three mechanics, one escavator operator and four samplers of gold bearing material for mining illegally and possession of 26 bags 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.
The suspects will appear on 24 June in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court.
