By Everson Luhanga
- Police say most of the arrested miners are undocumented foreign nationals and face charges for illegal mining and being in the country unlawfully.
- The miners were forced to surface after running out of food underground as the Vala Umgodi operation against illegal mining continues.
Nearly 1,000 illegal miners have been arrested at the Sheba Gold Mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga.
Police say the arrests were made during the nationwide Vala Umgodi operation, which is aimed at cracking down on illegal mining.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said most of those arrested are undocumented foreign nationals. They were unable to provide papers to show their nationality.
The miners are expected to face charges for both illegal mining and being in the country illegally.
Mdhluli said the operation forced the miners to resurface because they could no longer get food supplies delivered to them underground.
“These efforts aim to dismantle illegal mining networks, protect our natural resources and ensure the safety of affected communities,” Mdhluli said.
The police believe the number of arrests could rise as the operation continues.
The Sheba Gold Mine remains operational, but suspicions that illegal activity was happening there prompted the large-scale raid.
Earlier this year, police closed a gold mine in Stilfontein, North West, where at least 78 illegal miners died and hundreds were rescued.
One of the ringleaders known as Tiger remains on the run after escaping custody shortly after being pulled from underground.
Police officers accused of helping him escape from a holding cage have since been arrested.
Pictured above: Nearly 1000 miners arrested in Mpumalanga.
Image source: SAPS
