In a significant operation targeting illegal mining activities, six suspects were arrested by Mpumalanga police after being found in possession of explosives suspected to be used in illicit mining operations. The arrests took place in Barberton during a routine vehicle checkpoint along the R38 Road. Police stopped a maroon vehicle containing three occupants, and upon conducting a thorough search, they discovered a dangerous cache of explosives. Among the items found were four superpower 90 blasting cartridges, a capped fuse, and nine meters of detonating cord. These materials are believed to have been intended for illegal mining activities, a growing concern in the region.
Two of the suspects were also charged under the Immigration Act for lacking valid documentation to be in the country, adding further complexity to the case. The arrested individuals were charged with possession of prohibited explosives, and their vehicle was seized by the authorities. As the investigation unfolded, three additional individuals were apprehended for failing to produce proper documentation, highlighting the scope of illegal activities in the area. The suspects are set to appear in court on February 12, 2025.
Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, the acting provincial police commissioner, reaffirmed the police’s commitment to combating illegal mining and announced that Operation Vala Umgodi would continue its focus on dismantling illegal mining operations. This operation is part of a broader effort to combat the escalating threat posed by illegal mining in various parts of South Africa.
Meanwhile, in Limpopo, four more suspects were arrested in connection with illegal mining, following the discovery of an illicit gold processing laboratory along the R71 near Tarentaalrand in the Letsitele policing area. Three of the suspects, Jonh Vondo (39), Hardlife Manjoko (35), and Biggie Chimwero (36), are from Zimbabwe, while the fourth, Samuel Almeida Mashaba (46), is from Mozambique. The suspects appeared before the Ritavi Magistrate’s Court on February 10 and were remanded in custody until their next court appearance on February 18. Mashaba is also facing charges under the Immigration Act.
The suspects are accused of illegally processing gold-bearing materials, and law enforcement officers seized a range of equipment used in the illicit operation, including containers with carbon ashes, gas bottles, sulfuric acids, and oxygen cylinders. Additionally, two vehicles—a red Haval and a white Mercedes-Benz with Gauteng registration plates—believed to be owned by the two alleged ringleaders, were confiscated. The authorities suspect that these individuals are the main drivers of illegal mining activities in the area.
The arrests in both Mpumalanga and Limpopo reflect a growing effort by South African law enforcement to tackle the illegal mining industry, which continues to contribute to crime, environmental degradation, and economic instability. Authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to shut down these operations and bring those responsible to justice.
