The Citizen reports that police have arrested 16 people believed to be illegal miners (zama zamas) at two illegal mining sites in Gauteng. They also arrested 34 undocumented people at these sites.

The simultaneous busts formed part of the multi-disciplinary illegal mining operation dubbed Vala Umgodi and included teams from police, the SA National Defence Force, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department and the Department of Home Affairs. On Wednesday, the teams descended on the West Rand and Ekurhuleni districts, arresting 11 people in Krugersdorp for suspected illegal mining and five people in Crystal Park believed to be illegal miners. They also arrested seven undocumented people in Krugersdorp and 27 undocumented persons in Crystal Park. Both teams seized illegal mining tools such as explosives, detonator cords, generators, phendukas (hand-driven cylinders), crush pots, spades, hammers and bags of gold bearing material. “Police and community relations is key to fighting illegal mining hence the public is urged to report these illegal activities to their nearest police station or on the Crime Stop Line,” the police said.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicholas Zaal at The Citizen

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page