CRIME COMBATING TEAM ARRESTS MORE THAN 20 SUSPECTS IN BAPONG FOR VARIOUS CRIMES, INCLUDING ILLEGAL MINING
POTCHEFSTROOM: 21 DECEMBER 2025 – The newly established Crime Combatting Team to address illegal mining in the Bapong Area, arrested 21 suspects since Thursday, 11 December 2025, until Saturday, 20 December 2025, at Sarajevo Section, Legalaopeng, and Modderspruit Villages in the policing precinct of Mooinooi.
The suspects were nabbed mostly for contravention of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002), and for contravention of Section 49 (1)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002).
11 suspects were arrested on Friday, 12 December 2025, and a Toyota LDV, loaded with chrome-bearing material as well as other mining equipment was seized.
On Saturday, 13 December 2025, one suspect was arrested and a truck with two trailers containing chrome-bearing material was seized.
On Sunday, 14 December 2025, the team arrested five more suspects for drinking in public. Two of them were further charged for contravention of the Immigration Act, 2002.
On Thursday, 18 December 2025, the team arrested a 51-year-old suspect for contravention of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Act, 2002 and seized a Nissan 1-ton truck, an excavator, and mining equipment.
On Saturday, 20 December 2025, a 19-year-old suspect was arrested in Sarajevo with a wheelbarrow containing chrome-bearing material, and charged for illegal mining. The team apprehended two more suspects; a male (aged 52) and a female (aged 41), and seized the pair’s vehicle, a bakkie containing chrome-bearing material. The suspects are both undocumented Zimbabweans.
The Acting Provincial Police Commissioner of the North West, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, thanked the members for their hard work and continued efforts in the fight against illicit mining activities in the Bapong area.
