| 2024/04/17 |
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Media Statement
POLOKWANE – The Multidisciplinary Forces through Operation Vala Umgodi have arrested five foreign nationals male suspects aged between 21and 32 years for possession of precious minerals at Letsitele outside Tzaneen in Mopani District. It is reported that team comprising the SAPS Tactical Response Team, National Intervention Unit and Public Order Policing Units on Monday 15 April 2024 at about 20:30 swiftly acted upon the information received from the source about illegal mining activities in the area of Letsitele. The team subsequently managed to spot the identified motor vehicle, a white Ford Focus along R71 road. Upon stopping and searching it, they found five male occupants and discovered a bag carrying precious minerals and a penduga at the backside of the vehicle. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were foreign nationals without legitimate documentation as per immigration act. In a separate incident, two male suspects aged 32 and 46 years were arrested while transporting suspected stolen chrome in a tipper truck and a van at Steelpoort outside Burgersfort in Sekhukhune District on Monday 15 April 2024. A simultaneous operations Vala Umgodi in the entire province, yielded success after the arrest of seventeen suspects on Monday 15 April 2024. These suspects were apprehended for a variety of charges ranging from possession of dangerous weapons, contravention of immigration act and dealing in dagga. The Police have confiscated mining equipment that included pendugas, tipper trucks, and motor vehicles that are believed to have been used in the commission of illegal mining.
The suspects are expected to appear before various Magistrate’s Court soon in the week.
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