TimesLive reports that eleven suspected illegal miners (zama zamas) were arrested at the Chromnet mine in the Northam area, Limpopo, on Thursday.

A joint team comprising the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit and Public Order Police members caught the suspects red-handed mining chrome at the mine. Mining vehicles such as two TLBs and one horse truck with two trailers worth over R3m were seized. Capt Matimba Maluleke, Hawks Limpopo spokesperson, went on to report: “While the police were busy detaining the vehicles in the Thabazimbi area, a certain man who identified himself as the owner of the TLBs allegedly approached and offered a R15,000 gratification to the police so that his seized vehicles can be freed and he was also arrested.” More operations to address illegal mining activities in the province were still going to be conducted, he added.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgaugelo Masweneng at TimesLive
• Read too, Case of 11 people accused of illegal mining in Limpopo postponed to next Friday, at SABC News

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