KIMBERLY: 11 JANUARY 2024 - Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola commended SAPS members in the Namaqua district after 13 undocumented persons were arrested in connection with illicit mining. On Wednesday 10 January 2024 members from Public Order Police executing Operation Vala Umgodi, conducted search and seizure actions in the Namaqua district. A total of 13 undocumented persons were arrested.
Twelve undocumented Lesotho nationals between the ages of 23 and 45 and one undocumented Zimbabwe national aged 45, were apprehended. A 190 items, believed to be used in the commission of illicit mining was seized, including: pliers, jackhammers, drills, spotlights, grinders, generators, shovels, sand sieves, pickaxes, chisels, hand hammers and screwdrivers.
Operation Vala Umgodi will continue unabated to curb illicit mining.