| 2024/03/18 |
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Media Statement
NELSPRUIT – Operation Vala Umgodi has yielded positive results on Thursday, 14 March 2024 at a place called Beetgekraal in Maartenshoop, as two firearms were seized during the operation. Members received information about a suspect who was in possession of a firearm. On members’ arrival, a 64-year-old man was found with a .38 special revolver with five empty cartridge cases. According to the report, the firearm was found in the suspect’s bedroom drawer. Further investigation led members to a certain address near Sekhukhuni in Limpopo. It was at this address where the men and women in Blue established that the firearm licence expired 31 years ago (in 1993). Whilst busy searching inside the house, members stumbled upon an R1 assault rifle. The man was arrested and charged with two counts of possession of both unlicensed firearms. Members also learned that the suspect had no safes for the two firearms. In a separate incident, members conducted a disruptive operation in Ogies. Two private employees were found unlawfully extracting coal from a shallow dug whole. An excavator as well as a truck were being operated by two employees. Police are currently continuing with the investigation surrounding this incident. Meanwhile on Friday, 15 March 2024, members in Pilgrims Rest managed to seize several mining equipments. Amongst the seized equipments are three penduka’s, two 9 kg’s of gas bottles, one 10 kg’s gas bottle, two black gas bottles as well four electric motors. A 38-year-old suspect was arrested in Barberton for unlawful possession of mercury. All suspects are expected to appear at various courts soon.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has commended members for working hard in fighting crime, including the thorny issue of illegal mining.
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