Everson Luhanga
Gauteng police arrested 30 suspected illegal miners on Thursday as part of a wider crackdown on lawlessness in the region.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said the police disrupted an illegal mining operation in Benoni, Ekurhuleni during a weekday Operation O Kae Molao.
High-profile police officials joined Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, and Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, in one of the troubled East Rand townships known for illegal mining.
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,” said Masondo.
“The suspects will be charged under legislation related to illegal mining activities and illegal possession of explosives, among other crimes.”
He said the suspects will be processed by the Department of Home Affairs as they are all suspected to be undocumented foreign nationals.
Masondo added that the multidisciplinary operation started with the tracing of wanted suspects in the province.
“More than 1,050 people who have been on the run after committing crime that includes gender-based violence were traced and arrested.”
He said 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.
Police conducted similar operations in the greater West Rand district in response to the gang-rape of a film crew in West Village in July.
