During ongoing police operations in the Driekop area in the early hours of Saturday, January 14, 2023, seven alleged illegal miners aged 18 to 36 were detained.
The arrests took place in Sekhukhune District.
A dishonest illegal mining kingpin has been denied bail.
One South African, three Mozambicans, and three Zimbabweans are the suspects.
Police apprehended them as they were illegally mining chrome on Mooihoek Mountain.
Provincial Illegal Mining Task Team and Driekop South African Police Services (SAPS) Crime Prevention members seized the following mining equipment:
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, congratulated the members for their coordinated efforts to prevent unlawful mining.
The campaign against illegal mining will continue to be strengthened throughout the Province, according to Hadebe.
This is especially true in the districts of Sekhukhune and Mopani.
The police are warning communities not to engage in illicit mining because they will persistently arrest offenders and seize their equipment.
On Monday, January 16, the apprehended suspects will appear before the Mecklenburg Magistrate’s Court to face illegal mining accusations.
The Immigration Act imposes additional charges on the suspects.
»Seven alleged illegal miners were apprehended in the Sekhukhune District«