Welkom: Operation Vala Umgodi team continues to leave an indelible mark in Free State Province. The team executed various operational concepts to thwart all crimes related to illicit mining in the province.
According to South African Police Service, combat and proactive operators and drone pilots executed foot, motor vehicle, and air-to-ground patrols at Eland Mine Shaft, Beatrix 4 Mine Shaft, Western Holdings 5 Old Mine, and Tatget 2 Rock Dump. Six suspects, aged between 28 and 50, were found engaged in illegal mining activities on open cast or pit and/or separation process on makeshift slope tables to gain gold ores.
The police seized gold-bearing material weighing a total of 109.94 kilograms and gold processing equipment such as shovels, garden spades, pick axes, strainers, and basins. Case dockets of possession of suspected gold-bearing material and gold processing equipment, with an additional charge of contravention of the Immigration Act, were opened at Welkom, Theunissen, and Allenridge Police Stations.
The suspects will appear before court soon.