Four officers arrested for aiding Stilfontein illegal mining kingpin

Four police officers, believed to have aided the so-called Stilfontein illegal mining kingpin Neo Tshoaeli, have been arrested. This was revealed by Acting North West Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, during a media briefing in Stilfontein.

Tshoaeli, popularly known as Tiger, escaped after he was retrieved from underground at Shaft 11 in the area, during a government-led operation.

The four police officers – Jack Motlhabya, Menzi Shabalala, Ntutuko Dladla and Samkelo Mbotho – appeared in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court.

Operation Vala Umgodi is aimed at curbing illicit mining activities and started in 2023. While it is implemented in seven provinces, Stilfontein highlighted the intricacies of illegal mining. The operation led to the arrest of thousands of illegal miners, some alleged to be kingpins.

Tshoaeli escaped from police custody after resurfacing from Shaft 11 over two weeks ago.

Acting Police Commissioner in the North West, Major General Patrick Asananeng says, “This investigation was informed by the fact that we were confident that since the start of Operation Vala Umgodi and since illegal miners had been resurfacing from underground, whether assisted or on their own, we have never experienced an escape. Our investigation was premised on the belief that Tiger or the suspect could only have escaped with the assistance of our members who were there on the day when he resurfaced.”

North West Police Update | ‘Four officials held for kingpin’s escape’

Asaneng says four police officers are now accused of aiding the escape.

“Following this investigation, four of our members, who are on what we call detached duty for Operation Vala Umgodi in Stilfontein, have since been arrested and have been charged with 2 counts. The first count being that of defeating the course of justice and the second count being aiding a prisoner to escape. The four suspects have since appeared before the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court and they have since been granted bail of a thousand rand.”

Asaneng says other illegal miners are still resurfacing at Margaret Shaft, which is a few kilometers from Shaft 11, where a government-led rescue operation was taking place.

“We saw the beginning of this week, at Margaret shaft, one corpse brought to the surface on the 27th and the following day we saw 2 miners emerging from underground and yesterday three, which brings the total to five. what I can say is that they have indicated that there are some of the colleagues underground but we have also onset that none of them shows signs of imatiated, being hungry, which then says there is still enough food underground.”

The accused will appear in court again in March.