The post Operation Vala Umgodi Nets Mozambican Suspect After Dramatic Manhunt Near Barberton Mine appeared first on MDNtv.
]]>A police operation targeting illegal mining activities in Mpumalanga has resulted in the arrest of a 35-year-old Mozambican national who was allegedly found hiding in dense bushland with ammunition in his possession.
The arrest, carried out under Operation Vala Umgodi, marks another chapter in the state’s ongoing battle against illegal mining networks operating in and around Barberton, an area long plagued by illicit mining activity.
Authorities say the suspect was apprehended at Makheshe Mountain near Agnes Mine after a coordinated intelligence-driven operation that began earlier this week.
According to police, the operation initially unfolded on 4 June 2026 when officers acted on intelligence about suspected illegal mining activities in the area.
As law enforcement teams approached the site, several illegal miners reportedly fled into the surrounding terrain after noticing the police presence.
In the rush to escape, the suspects allegedly abandoned various pieces of mining equipment, including phendukas, as well as an unlicensed firearm.
The discovery prompted authorities to launch an intensive follow-up operation aimed at tracking down those linked to the illegal mining operation.
Police returned to the area on Saturday, 6 June 2026, where officers continued searching the mountainous terrain and surrounding vegetation.
During the operation, they located a man allegedly hiding in thick bushes near the mining site.
Officers searched the suspect and reportedly found him in possession of ten rounds of ammunition of various calibres.
The 35-year-old Mozambican national was immediately arrested.
The operation yielded further discoveries beyond the arrest.
Police confirmed that officers recovered 539 rounds of ammunition and two generators that had been abandoned in a separate area linked to the investigation.
Specialised teams were also deployed to deal with equipment left behind at the mining site.
The Bomb Disposal Unit safely destroyed the phendukas recovered during the operation to prevent them from being used in future illegal mining activities.
The suspect has been charged with unlawful possession of ammunition as well as contravening South Africa’s Immigration Act.
He is expected to appear before the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on 8 June 2026.
Police say investigations remain ongoing as authorities continue efforts to dismantle illegal mining operations and disrupt criminal networks operating in the Barberton region.
Operation Vala Umgodi remains one of the country’s flagship interventions against illegal mining, with law enforcement agencies increasingly targeting the weapons, equipment and supply chains that sustain underground mining syndicates.
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The post Operation Vala Umgodi Nets Mozambican Suspect After Dramatic Manhunt Near Barberton Mine appeared first on MDNtv.
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