Gauteng police step up efforts to stop illegal mining

Sibanye-Stillwater

Johannesburg — Gauteng police say they are making serious progress to dismantle the organised crime syndicates that are behind the illegal mining industry.

Police ran disruptive operations at the Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg when they confiscated a large cache of gold refining equipment, while on Wednesday they arrested hundreds of illegal miners, with the help of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), EWN reported.

 Acting provincial police commissioner, Tommy Mthombeni, said they were dealing with surface-level miners, while the Hawks were dealing with the so-called “kingpins”.

“There is a lot of issues which we have to [address] but what is important, it has to be that effective, integrated, typical type of leadership or different type of governments agencies in order to address these things, it must not only be looking on the side of the police,” he said.

Elsewhere, the Crime Prevention Wardens , worked alongside SAPS and other law enforecement officials an in effort to prevent more illegal mining across the province, this time arresting 23 suspects in Krugersdorp.

“The Crime Prevention Wardens joined the illegal mining operations in Krugersdorp, together with members of SAPS and other Law Enforcement officials, 23 suspects were arrested for charges including, illegal mining, possession of drugs, dealing in drugs and possession of a dangerous weapon and contravening the immigration act,” The Gauteng Department for Community Safety, said.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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