Operation Knockout has been active in the greater Goldfields area and since 21 August, 34 people have been arrested.
In the Lejweleputswa District, the Knockout team has arrested 139 suspects on crimes such as trespassing, possession of illicit mining equipment, malicious damage to property, fraud, obstruction of justice, and assault on a police officer.
On Wednesday, 21 August, while on a way-lay operation, members received information that led them to Thabong G-Hostel, where they surprised two men busy trying to wash gold-bearing material. The suspects managed to flee, but their tools were confiscated, including a blue pipe and cutting torch, says police spokesperson, Sgt Mahlomola Kareli.
On their way back to their base, they came across two men, aged 26 and 48 years, who admitted that they were in South Africa illegally. The two men were arrested for contravention of the Immigration Act.
Also on 21 August, a man (34) was arrested after he was found in possession of gold-bearing material in Thabong. The same day, an 18-year-old man was arrested for contravention of the Immigration Act. Following this, two people were arrested in Long Road, Welkom, for fraud after police members discovered that they fraudulently produced their own documents.
Six others, aged between 34 and 36 years, were arrested in the Merriespruit old mine shaft for possession of gold-bearing material, trespassing, and contravention of the Immigration Act. The six were surprised while busy with phendukas (hand-driven cylinders) in the mine yard on 21 August.
The team, while on patrols near Riebeeckstad, arrested an 18-year-old illegal foreign national and three others (aged 21, 29 and 41) in Constantia Road in Thabong.
While in Nyakallong on Friday 23 August, the Knockout team arrested nine illegal immigrants (aged between 25 and 41 years) after they were found roaming in the street.
Also on Friday, four suspects were arrested in Theunissen after they were found with gold-bearing material and equipment.
“The team again received information about a smelt-house in Riebeeckstad and managed to arrest one man found with gold-bearing material, and proof of being in contravention of the Medicine Act,” says Kareli.
He says that Operation Knockout, which runs parallel with the actions of Vala Umgodi in the fight against illicit mining in the Lejweleputswa and surrounding areas, yielded notable successes in the week of 21 August.
“The Knockout team works closely with private security to conduct disruptive actions and react to information about illicit trade taking place at any shaft in the Welkom vicinity. The old shafts are tactically approached as the entrances are mostly barricaded with rocks. This does not deter the team from clearing the entrances so they can reach the illegal miners underground,|” says Kareli.
