Sabie – Eleven suspected illegal gold miners have been arrested during the ongoing police “Operation Shanela”, near Mashishing (formerly Lydenburg) in Mpumalanga.
The suspects – thought to be immigrants – failed to produce proof that they were South Africans or were in the country legally.
The suspects aged between 25 and 53, who were arrested on Friday, were believed to be from Lesotho, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
The SA Police Service raid on the unlawful mining operation was backed up by members of the South African Defence Force.
Mpumalanga Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela led the operation assisted by Ehlanzeni District Acting Police Commissioner Major General Dorah Xaba.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said 70 bottles of counterfeit alcohol, explosives, bags filled with gold-bearing soil, and other mining equipment were seized during the raid.
“The team visited the alleged miners’ hideouts,” said Mohlala.
“During the operation, 11 undocumented illegal immigrants were arrested.
“The multidisciplinary operation successfully removed illegal mining equipment.”
Mohlala said further investigation would be carried out to find out if the arrested suspects could be positively linked to illegal mining activities.
