Provincial Commissioner welcomes 669 suspects nabbed for serious crimes within a month during Operation Vala Umgodi

Media Statement
South African Police Service
Office of the Provincial Commissioner Limpopo
 

POLOKWANE – The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has praised members of Operation Vala Umgodi for their commitment and dedication to ensure illegal mining is eradicated and more boots are on the ground to deal harshly with the criminal acts in the mining areas.

Six hundred and sixty nine (669) suspects have been arrested for crimes like illegal mining, possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunitions, contravention of immigration Act, possession and dealing in drugs, possession of suspected stolen vehicles, possession of counterfeit goods, assaults and 9 deportations across Limpopo Province from 1 December 2024.

Confiscations were as follows: seven firearms, 38 live ammunitions, three magazines and nine vehicles.

The operation is a joint effort involving Department of Home Affairs, South African National Defence Force, Department of Minerals and Energy.

The aim is to ensure that stability and safety prevail in the mining environments throughout the Province of Limpopo.

She added that illegal mining is a crime and residents must continue to give the police information leading to the arrests of perpetrators by using Crime Stop number 08600 10111 alternatively MySAPS App anonymously.
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