Seventy-one suspected illegal miners were arrested on Karee Boom Farm near Kimberley.
SEVENTY-one suspected illegal miners were arrested on Karee Boom Farm near Kimberley.
The group of suspects, of which four are women, aged between 24 and 45 years old, and 67 are men, aged between 20 and 63, were allegedly illegally mining on the farm.
Police spokesperson Molefi Shemane said the suspects were arrested when the SAPS and the SANDF conducted a joint operation, “Operation Vala Umgodi”, which aims to combat illicit mining activities in Kimberley and surrounds.
“The police and the SANDF continued with the operation on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, by conducting high-density patrols in hot-spot areas linked to illegal mining within the Frances Baard District.
“The alert operational members spotted a group of people busy with digging on Karee Boom Farm. The police discovered that the group of diggers did not have mining permits to operate on the farm and were not granted access by the owner of the farm to dig on the land. The group was subsequently arrested for illegal mining and trespassing.”
Shemane added that items and tools believed to have been used during the alleged illegal mining were confiscated.
“Numerous sieves, a blue VW Polo and a bicycle were also confiscated,” he said.
“The acting provincial commissioner, Major-General Luntu-Ngubelanga, commended the law enforcement agencies in addressing illegal mining and other related crimes.
“He applauded the collaborative team that tirelessly continues to disrupt illegal mining activities in the Province,” added Shemane.
