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A police van is pictured at a mine in Stilfontein where illegal miners are underground in this image captured on 25 November 2024.
Another six illegal miners have been arrested at two shafts at Stilfontein in the North West.
Provincial police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone says the six miners face charges of illegal mining, trespassing and contravention of the Immigration Act.
“Of the six illegal miners, four resurfaced at Margaret Shaft. The other two were pulled out at Buffels Shaft No. 11. They comprise of three Lesotho, two Zimbabwe and one Mozambique undocumented foreign nationals. In addition to the stipulated charges, one of the suspects will be charged for possession of gold-bearing material.”
The arrest comes after 27 teenage boys were handed over to the Mozambique consulate on Tuesday.
They came to the surface from disused mines more than a month ago.
More than one 1 400 illegal miners have come to the surface since Operation Vala Umgodi was mounted by police in the North West in October.
Meanwhile, 19 illegal mineworkers were last week sentenced by the Stilfontein Magistrate’s court to 24 months imprisonment, suspended for five years for contravention of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act.
They were arrested last month. Mokgwabone says 14 of the convicts are from Lesotho, four from Mozambique, and one from Zimbabwe.
He says they were also sentenced for being in the country illegally.
