Police in Mpumalanga on Wednesday said they have busted a massive illegal coal mining operation and confiscated a bulldozer, three front-end loaders, a water tanker, and several cars including a Hyundai truck.
Two coal screeners, a generator, two diesel bowsers, roller, trailer, water tanker, tractor loader backhoe, Toyota Hilux, VW Polo Classic, Nissan NP200, Opel Astra, and a BMW were also confiscated by police during the swoop on the illegal mining operation.
As many as 17 people were nabbed.
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said Wednesday that the swoop, “emanates from an intelligence-driven operation, which consisted of visible policing, POP [Public Order Police], detective service, crime intelligence, DMRE [Department of Mineral Resources], and the security [personnel] from Anglo American”.
Giving further details, Brigadier Mohlala said: “The team conducted an operation at Schoogezight coal dump yesterday, 18 January 2022, in which 17 suspects were taken for questioning and three were released.
“The remaining 14 suspects, aged 19 to 58 were arrested and are expected to appear before Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on the charges of illegal mining and fraud after they produced a fraudulent certificate for mining.”
The Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela commended the team for the bust.
Lieutenant General Manamela said he, “appreciated the efforts of the South African Police Service members and the security agencies in the fight against illegal mining in the province”.
The provincial commissioner also warned against illegal mining.
