By Staff Reporter
LULEKANI-Two suspected illegal miners were arrested while the third suspect was fatally wounded during a shootout with police yesterday Thursday, January 19 at approximately 11h30 in Lulekani.
The Police were busy conducting illegal mining operations in the area when they noticed a group of suspects illegally mining gold-bearing soil on a farm near Selwane village.
They tactically approached the suspects but one of them allegedly opened fire on police officers who retaliated, fatally wounding him.
Police managed to arrest two suspects and recover in the process, one firearm allegedly belonging to the deceased, a Lesotho National aged 41.
The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe once more warns community members to desist from engaging in illegal mining activities as police will not hesitate to deal with those who continue to ignore this call while attacking police officers.
The two arrested foreign nationals aged 23 and 43 were charged with illegal mining and contravention of the Immigration Act.
They will appear in the Lulekani Magistrate’s Court soon. Meanwhile, the deceased suspect was charged with illegal mining, attempted murder, contravention of the Immigration Act and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
