IOL reports that a group of 87 alleged illegal miners appeared briefly in the Orkney Magistrate’s Court near Klerksdorp in North West on Wednesday.

Henry Mamothame, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in North West, said the case against the group was postponed to 2 March for investigation and would be heard in the regional court for trial. The men, all from Lesotho, are facing charges of attempted murder, illegal possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition, illegal possession of gold, theft and conspiracy to commit an offence. They were arrested in an intelligence-driven operation on 20 October at Shaft 2 in Orkney. During the arrest, six illegal miners – better known as zama zamas – were gunned down and eight injured following a shootout with members of the Special Task Force assisted by Hawks Organised Crime in North West. Of the eight who were wounded during the shootout, seven have been discharged from hospital and only one is still under police guard receiving medical attention. Two minibus taxis, illegal mining paraphernalia, gold-bearing material, 11 Illegal firearms and bags of food were seized during the arrest.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Molaole Montsho at IOL

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