Information from the Intelligence structure of the police in the province, has led members of the SAPS from Witbank and security officials from Transnet’s Freight Rail (TFR) to conduct a joint operation on Thursday 8 September 2022, with the aim to clamp down on theft of ferrochrome.
The said operation was held following a concern raised regarding incidents of theft of ferrochrome in various mines across the province of Mpumalanga and the information gathered regarding this underground activities indicated that the minerals were being illegally exported to other countries.
The joint operation by the two entities, SAPS and TFR in response to the alluded concern saw certain identified houses located in old Coronation informal settlement next to a certain mine in Witbank.
A raid was then conducted on 8 September 2022, where a total of 19 suspects, aged between 19 and 52 were arrested.
In addition, suspected stolen chrome valued at about R10 000-00 were also found in the possession of two suspects aged 39 and 50 who are South African citizens. The two were charged for illegal possession of chrome meanwhile the other 17 suspects were charged for contravention of Immigration Act after police discovered that they were without valid documentation to be in South Africa.
Amongst the undocumented persons arrested, there are two women aged 26 and 27.
The suspects are expected to appear at the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on 9 September 2022 facing the said charges.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has reiterated that the police jointly with other stakeholders will continue to fight crime from all angles. “We really value the partnership that we have with our partners and it is such collaborative work which see us making great impact. We continue to urge our communities to report criminal activities to the authorities so that such actions can follow” said the General.
