275 suspects arrested during last week’s nationwide Vala Umgodi operations

Media Statement
South African Police Service
 

PRETORIA – Since its inception in December 2023, OPERATION VALA UMGODI continues to make significant strides in dealing decisively with those involved in illicit mining activities across the country.

Nationwide, VALA UMGODI operations led to the arrest of 275 suspects of different nationalities between the period starting on Monday, 14 October 2024 ending on Sunday, 20 October 2024.

Forty-seven of the 275 suspects were arrested for illegal mining related offences while others were arrested for various crimes such as murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of explosives and possession of suspected stolen property.

The VALA UMGODI teams in North-West arrested majority of these suspects with 97 arrests, while 46 were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal followed by 44 arrests made in Mpumalanga. 

Amongst some of the items seized during last week’s VALA UMGODI operations included:

▶️ 13 unlicensed firearms were confiscated during VALA UMGODI operations last week;

▶️ 337 rounds of ammunition were confiscated during the same period;

▶️ 12 vehicles that include sedans, bakkies, trucks and trailers were also confiscated during last week’s operations          

Highlights of VALA UMGODI successes for last week include:

▶️ On 19 October 2024, an integrated intelligence-driven operation between SAPS and SANDF resulted in the arrest of seven illegal miners for possession of gold bearing material in Kagiso (West Rand) and Selby (Johannesburg) respectively.  A number of illegal mining equipment were confiscated during this operation that included pendukas, gas cylinders, spades, steel balls and crusher pots together with bags containing gold bearing material.

▶️ Five men who are suspected to be involved in territorial feuds between KwaMusi and Onyango villages which have led to several murders were arrested during an intelligence-led operation in Nongoma on 18 October 2024 by members operating under OPERATION VALA UMGODI in KwaZulu-Natal.

▶️ On 17 October 2024, members deployed in the Free State under OPERATION VALA UMGODI operationalised information and arrested a 34-year-old foreign national in Ficksburg for the contravention of the Explosives Act 26 of 1956. The members also confiscated blasting cartridges, electronic detonators, boosters, shock tubes and detonating cords found in the suspect’s possession.

OPERATION VALA UMGODI comprises of SAPS members from various specialised units alongside members from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI – “Hawks”), South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Department of Home Affairs (DHA), SARS Customs and other law enforcement agencies.

These multi-disciplinary operations are being carried out in the seven identified hotspot provinces, namely; Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West.

SAPS members deployed in the seven provinces as part of OPERATION VALA UMGODI also prevent and combat crimes which are not directly related to illicit mining activities.

Ends

Enquiries:
Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk
067 595 0163

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