Gauteng police disrupted an illegal mining operation in Benoni and arrested more than 30 suspected illegal miners one of which is alleged to be a 13-year-old boy.
The suspected Zama Zama were arrested on Thursday during Operation O Kae Molao led by Leiutenant General Elias Mawela, the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner and Faith Mazibuko, the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety.
Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said the suspected illegal miners, aged between 13 and 54, were found with explosives and other equipment used for illegal mining.
“The police destroyed the structures used as workshops and hiding places by the illegal miners. The suspects will be charged under legislation related to illegal mining activities and illegal possession of explosives, among other crimes.
“They will be processed by the Department of Home Affairs and they are all suspected to be undocumented foreign nationals.”
Masondo said the multidisciplinary operation began with the tracing of wanted suspects.
“More than 1050 people who have been on the run after committing crime that includes gender-based violence were traced and arrested.”
“In the second phase of the operation, police conducted a roadblock in Benoni, where two cars with engine numbers tampered with were impounded. Seven illegal liquor outlets regarded as generators of crime were closed down,” Masondo said.
He added that the disruption of illegal mining operations was the third phase of the operation and also took place in other districts around Gauteng.
Source: The Citizen, The South African, Times Live, image from Times Live: SAPS