Authorities in Limpopo have intensified their campaign against illegal mining with the arrest of a 41-year-old Mozambican national operating a gold processing farm in Giyani.
Story Summary:
- Limpopo police arrested a Mozambican national running an illegal gold processing farm in Giyani.
- Authorities seized mining equipment worth R3 million and gold during the raid.
- Meanwhile, over 4,000 illegal miners remain trapped underground at Stilfontein, with heightened tensions.
Limpopo police close down crucial zama zama gold processing farm
The arrest, made during a targeted operation on Thursday, resulted in the seizure of mining equipment valued at R3 million.
Dubbed “Operation Green,” the raid was spearheaded by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in collaboration with the Giyani Local Criminal Record Centre, the State Security Agency, and the South African Diamond and Precious Metal Regulator.
At a farm in Giyani Section A, officers found the suspect actively refining gold.
Upon questioning, it was revealed that the suspect had no documentation to reside in South Africa, prompting his immediate arrest.
Seized during the operation were industrial tools used for illegal mining, including built-in leaching tanks, chemical containers, and refined gold.
The suspect was due to appear in the Giyani Magistrate’s Court on Friday, facing charges under the Immigration Act and the Precious Metal Act.
Limpopo’s Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Adv. Gopz Govender commended the team for their successful intervention.
“This operation underscores our commitment to dismantling illegal mining operations in the province,” Govender said.
What’s the latest in Stilfontein?
In Stilfontein, North West, where the plight of over 4,000 trapped illegal miners remains unresolved, authorities confirmed the retrieval of one body from an abandoned shaft on Thursday.
The decomposed remains were brought to the surface by a group of volunteers, who used ropes to aid their recovery.
The site, a focal point of “Operation Vala Umgodi,” has been under strict surveillance by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The operation has included cutting off food and water supplies to deter illegal mining activities.
The ongoing blockade has drawn attention to the dire conditions underground.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, during an oversight visit, described the situation as “untenable,” highlighting the rope system in place for miners to emerge voluntarily.
