The fight against illegal mining has yielded a major breakthrough when two alleged kingpins were arrested on the night of 21 July 2017 by members the Organized Crime Unit.
The two suspects aged 40 and 62 respectively, where arrested after a sterling detective work that was launched immediately after the initial and subsequent arrests of nine suspects. The duo is from Pretoria and Rustenburg respectively.
On 25 May 2017, a high density operation comprising officials from the Department of Mineral Recourses and the South African Police Service was conducted along the R37 road between Lebowakgomo and Burgersfort, covering all identified sites in both clusters.
The operation was led by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Detective Services, Major General Bafana Linda and it yielded instant results when suspects were arrested at different sites. The mining machinery including excavations, TLBs and trucks as well as unprocessed chrome were confiscated.
Members of the Provincial Organized Crime Unit launched an intelligence driven operation in the Mooihoek area and were following up information that led to the arrest of the two and the confiscation of a Toyota Hilux, laptops and other materials.
The two kingpins are linked to illegal mining activities, including buying and exporting chrome to foreign countries.
The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba commended all members who were involved in this major success.
The suspects will appear in Lebowakgomo on Monday 24 July 2017 on charges related to the contravention of the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Act and the National Environmental Maintenance Act.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
