By Agreement Mabunda
MYAKAYAKA-Eleven suspects including a female were nabbed during an illegal mining operation that was conducted at Myakayaka village under the Maake policing area in the Mopani District on Saturday 09 December 2023 between 04:00 and 12:00.
Furthermore, ten male suspects aged between 19 and 46 were also found to be in the country illegally and charges of Contravention of Immigration Act were also added during the arrest.
A 49-year-old South African female suspect was found in possession of five (5) bags of suspected precious minerals with two (2) pendukas and a motto.
Police also managed to confiscate illegal mining equipment that were found abandoned worth thousand of rands comprised of the following:
* 31 x pendukas.
*17 x motors.
* 06 x gas cylinder tubes.
* 09 x oxygen bottles.
* 05 x oxygen tube cables.
* 10 x bags of suspected precious minerals.
* 03 x buckets containing silver round balls used for crushing suspected precious minerals while inside pendukas.
In addition, 03 wheelbarrows, 14 pendukas standers, 01 water pump machine, 01 water pump meter box with a long cable, 10 picks, 11 spades, 06 shovels, 08 hand cloves, 01 racker, 02 axes, 01 sawer, 03 pangas, 03 x 4 pounds hammers, 01 hammer, 01 grass cutter, 02 drill machines, 01 grinder machine, 07 torches, 06 electric cables.
Moreover, liquor of 44 x 750 ml Castle Milk stout, 24 x 750 ml calling black label,17 x 660 ml Hunters dry beer, 04 x 660 ml Castle Lite, and 13 x 660 ml Amstel Lager were also seized at the scene.
The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has applauded the sterling work that was performed by the police and warned the would-be illegal miners about the strengthened operations that would be conducted during the festive season celebrations.
The suspects are expected to appear before Maake Magistrate court soon facing charges of illegal mining and Contravention of the Immigration Act.
Police investigations are continuing.
