Sabie – Police are searching for several illegal miners, who ran away and left behind their weapons including an AK47 and lots of bullets, when they evaded arrest.
The abandoned weapons also included a .38 Special Revolver and 1 991 rounds of ammunition.
The Zama Zamas – estimated to be about 20 – fled when police on Thursday, (24 October 2024), swooped during an operation to curb illegal mining in Sabie, near Mashishing (formerly Lydenburg), Mpumalanga.
Commenting on the raid, Mpumalanga Acting Police Commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi said: “Our efforts to address illegal mining will continue until all illegal mining activities come to a halt.
“We just want to announce that we will continue with these operations and even exert more pressure while assessing our impact.”
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liason Jackie Macie, said: “This is a clear indication that, for us, to defeat criminality, we must work together.
“It is also reassuring to see the police working with private security in fighting crime and protecting communities.
“We also warn all illegal miners and their associates out there that their days are numbered and they will be arrested.”
