Timeslive reports that 33 alleged illegal miners were arrested in Limpopo on Friday at the rehabilitated Ellerton mine outside Giyani.
The suspects were arrested during a joint operation between the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit‚ the Department for Mineral Resources (DMR)‚ the Provincial Organised Crime Unit‚ Public Order Police‚ the Air Wing and the Local Criminal Record Centre. The multi-disciplinary operation ensued following an outcry by the local community about the alleged illegal mining of gold at Ellerton mine that was closed by DMR in 2016. The team swooped on the abandoned mine and seized gold-bearing material‚ five vehicles and several pieces of mining equipment‚ including two generators‚ mining drill machines‚ camping tents‚ industrial hammers and a sieve valued at about R500‚000.
- A short report by Nomahlubi Jordaan is at Timeslive
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