THE TEAMS ON ILLIGAL MINING UNDER OPERATION VALA UMGODI HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
POLOKWANE : On Thursday, 13 June 2024- just a day in action after the rotation of teams , new members hit the ground running as they were still getting orientation about where they are going to operate, the team in Waterberg district conducted an operation at Mahwelereng policing area in (Tshamahansi) village.
At about 12:25, members departed from SAPS Mokopane to Mahwelereng illegal mining site with the aim of orientation of members to the illegal mining sites around the Mahwelereng area
At about 13:40, members arrived at the first identified illegal mining site at Mahwelereng (settlement home 2000), and signs of illegal mining activities were noticed, but there were no trucks, no TLB.
At about 14:00, members arrived at the second illegal mining site of Tshamahansi, and an African male was found loading river sand into his bakkie and was placed under arrest .
At about 14:30 within the area of Tshamahansi illegal sand mining site , members monitored four African male busy loading sand and when they notice police vehicle advancing in their direction they started running and members gave chase, one suspect was arrested and the driver managed to escape with Truck keys,owner of the truck was traced and not found at his residential place.
The suspects arrested with ages ranging from 24 to 29 will appear before Mahwelereng mgistrate court soon.
The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo SAPS, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has praised the teams which partipated. She said, “We will never leave any stone unturned in this province when it comes to illigal mining,” Concluded General Hadebe.
