SEKHUKHUNE DISTRICT POLICE POUNCE ON ILLEGAL MINERS WHILE DIGGING CHROME UNDER GROUND AND UNLAWFUL DELIVERING OF UNFINISHED PRECIOUS METALS
POLOKWANE:The Police in Mecklenburg through a disruptive operation have arrested eight male Zimbabwean nationals for illegal mining activities and unlawful possession of unfinished precious metals as well as contravention of immigration act on Thursday, 09 November 2023 at Moroke and Ga-Phasha villages outside Burgersfort in Sekhukhune District.
The members attached to Provincial Organised Crime Investigation, Illegal Mining Task Team and Crime Intelligence Unit conducted a disruptive operation at Moroke village on Thursday, 09 November 2023 along R37 road. They accosted a white tipper truck fully loaded with unfinished chrome driven by a Zimbabwean national male suspect without proper documentations for ferrying and exporting minerals.
The team carried on with the operation following a tip-off received that led to disruption of illegal mining at Ga-Phasha village subsequently pouncing on seven male Zimbabwean national Illegal miners while under-ground.
The Police have recovered one tipper truck and confiscated mining equipment recovered from illegal mining activities that include two jackhammers, ten power generators and two shovels.
The Police are investigating cases of illegal mining activities and unlawful possession of unfinished precious metals as well as of the contravention of immigration act. The arrested suspects are between 18 and 40 years of age.
All the arrested suspects are scheduled to appear before Mecklenburg Periodical Court on Monday, 13 November 2023
