Limpopo Police in Vhembe District have through a joint operation arrested six male suspects for illegal mining activities and contravention of the Immigration Act.
They were arrested on Sunday, 31 December 2023.
According to the Police, the suspects were arrested by the Vhembe and Mopani Districts Anti-Illegal Mining Task Teams when they conducted Operation Vala Umgodi.
The suspects aged between 18 and 44 years old were arrested while they were illegally digging and processing the precious metals at an illegal mining site.
“The police have confiscated mining equipment which were used in the commission of the crime that included 3 spades, a shovel, 3 hammers, a wheelbarrow, 4 pendukas, an alpha motor, 2 picks and 2 fan belts.”
According to the Police, preliminary investigations have revealed that four of the suspects are undocumented foreign nationals.
The suspects are expected to appear before Malamulele Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 02 January 2024.