REGIONAL COURT IN THABAZIMBI CONVICT AND IMPOSE TWELVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT TO FOUR ILLEGAL MINERS

REGIONAL COURT IN THABAZIMBI CONVICT AND IMPOSE TWELVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT TO FOUR ILLEGAL MINERS

POLOKWANE:The Regional Court in Thabazimbi has convicted four accused for illegal mining and trespassing and subsequently sentenced them to twelve years imprisonment on Wednesday 02 August 2023.

The court heard that the accused were apprehended by the Police and Private Security Guards while digging chrome under ground at Rodedam farm in Lymburg mine within Northam Policing area on Thursday 27 October 2022.

The case of illegal mining and trespassing was opened at Northam Police Station and transferred to the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit for further investigations.

The four accused were granted bail of amount R1500 each and were released thereof. The case was assigned to both Sergeant Paul Kgare and Sergeant Harry Mashitisho.

The accused were found guilty of illegal mining and trespassing subsequently sentenced as follows, accused number 1 with number 4 Khwathelani Mbambale and Masilo Molewa to five years imprisonment alternatively a fine of R120 000 of which half of the sentence is suspended for three years and accused number 2 with number 3 Sello Ramaphakela and Matome Ramaphakela to one year imprisonment or fine amount of R2000 of which half of the sentence is suspended for three years.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the Court outcome and said that this will serve as a deterrent to the Community that illegal mining is a punishable offence.