33 foreign nationals Arrested for Illegal Mining
In a joint operation, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Intervention Unit, together with the South African Police Service Illegal Mining Unit and Quattro Security, arrested 33 foreign nationals aged between 18 and 46 for illegal mining and violations of the South African Immigration Act.
The arrests took place at the Vlakfontein old mine dumping site in Tsakane, where officers disrupted an active illegal mining operation. Authorities confiscated equipment including picks, pendunkas, water pumps, spades, hammers, and gas cylinders.
All suspects failed to produce identification documents or passports and were detained at the Tsakane Police Station. They are expected to appear before the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court facing charges of illegal mining and immigration violations.
