Polokwane – Two men from Mozambique, 22-year-old Musa Mlambo and 28-year-old Adam Sithole, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Polokwane Regional Court for illegal mining and being in South Africa unlawfully.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the two accused were sentenced on Wednesday, 20 August 2025.
Mlambo and Sithole were arrested on 23 January 2024 during a Westenburg police “Vala Umgodi Operation” conducted at the Zandrivier Old Mine in Bergenek village, outside Polokwane.
“At the time of their arrest, they were caught in the act of illegal mining, having already filled two bags with suspected gold-bearing minerals,” said Brigadier Mashaba.
The case was assigned to Sergeant Mmutlana Ledwaba of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit, who was part of the arresting team.
She successfully opposed bail until the accused were convicted on 7 April 2025, leading to their sentencing on Wednesday.
The sentences were handed down as follows:
Count 1: Contravention of the Environmental Act – 10 years imprisonment
Count 2: Mining activity without authorization – 10 years imprisonment
Count 3: Illegal mining of gold – 6 months imprisonment
Count 4: Contravention of the Immigration Act – 2 years imprisonment.
“The court ordered that the sentences on Counts 2, 3, and 4 run concurrently with Count 1, resulting in an effective sentence of 10 years imprisonment for each accused. Additionally, both were declared unfit to possess a firearm,” said Brigadier Mashaba.
Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, welcomed the sentence and applauded the investigating officer for her dedication.
She further emphasised that the outcome should serve as a strong deterrent to others engaged in illegal mining.
