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A total of 71 persons were arrested on Tuesday, 26 March, for illegal mining operations and trespassing on a farm outside Kimberley.
According to Sgt Molefi Shemane of the police’s Northern Cape Media Centre, a group of people who were busy digging on the Karee Boom farm were spotted by members of a multi-disciplinary team.
This team consisted of members of the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force who were conducting high density patrols in hotspot areas linked to illegal mining within the designated area of the Frances Baard District.
On further investigation, it was discovered that the group did not have mining permits to operate on the farm and was not given access by the owner to dig on his farm.
The 71 persons – four females aged 24 to 45 years old, 67 males aged 20 to 63 years old – were arrested for illegal mining and trespassing.
Numerous sieves, a blue VW Polo vehicle and a bicycle were confiscated.
The high-density patrol formed part of Operation Vala Umgodi which continues to dismantle the actions and activities of illicit mining.
The acting provincial commissioner, Maj. Genl. Luntu Ngubelanga, commended the law enforcement agencies in addressing illegal mining and related crimes.
In another unrelated incident, a 23-year-old man was arrested by the police and community patrollers in Deben for being in possession of suspected stolen copper pipes and brass fittings to the estimated value of R28 000.
He was arrested on Tuesday, 26 March while trying to sell the alleged stolen property at a local scrap yard.
It was earlier reported that copper pipes were stolen at one of the hostel’s.
The suspect will appear in the Kathu Magistrate’s Court soon on a charge of possession of suspected stolen goods.
The police are issuing a stern warning to the public to refrain from buying stolen goods. It is an offence if caught in possession of stolen goods, emphasised Capt. Mosimaneotsile Letsapa, police spokesperson.
