THE CASE AGAINST SUSPECTED ILLEGAL MINERS ARRESTED IN STILFONTEIN SUSPENDED FOR FURTHER BAIL HEARING
The Stilfontein Magistrates’ Court postponed the case against 21 suspected illegal miners to 27 February 2023, for further bail hearing for six of the suspects and further investigations. One of the applicants took a stand in pleading with the court to grant him bail and he indicated that he intends to plead not guilty to all the charges levelled against him. The state is opposing bail for all six applicants.
It has been verified that two of the applicants are from Lesotho, one from Swaziland and three are South African citizens. One accused is still out on R5000 bail, while fourteen others have not registered interest in applying for bail.
Their court appearance emanates from a well-executed operation on 10 October 2022, by the North West Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, assisted by members of the Hawks’ Tactical Management Section, Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, District Illegal Mining Task Team, Tactical Response Team, Bidvest Protea Coin, and Harmony Gold mine, when they embarked on an early morning raid at a mine shaft in Stilfontein.
According to the Hawks, the operation follows weeks of surveillance into the alleged illegal mining activities of the suspects resulting in the arrest of twenty-one (21)suspects, and the seizure of fifteen (15) AK47s, six (6) hunting rifles, two (2) shotguns and one (1) R5, boxes full of ammunition, explosives, and an undisclosed amount of money. Accused 21, arrested at his home and currently applying for bail, is suspected of transporting food and goods to illegal miners while on site. His vehicle was also seized.
The suspects are facing charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of prohibited firearms, possession of ammunition and contravention of the immigration act. More charges may be added, pending the completion of the investigations. Twenty of these suspects will remain in police custody until the next court appearance.
