The Citizen reports that in a significant bust on illegal mining and related criminal activities, during a six-week operation the SA Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo arrested over 930 suspects, including nearly 500 undocumented foreign nationals.

The operation ran from 1 December 2024 to 12 January 2025. It was part of the broader multi-disciplinary High-Density Operation Kukula, also known as Shanela. Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba announced on Friday that Operation Vala Umgodi had made substantial progress in combating illegal mining activities across all five districts of the province. “The operation, which specifically focuses on illegal mining activities, also addresses a broader range of criminal elements, including serious and violent crimes, contravention of immigration laws, possession of unlicensed firearms, ammunition, illicit cigarettes, and counterfeit goods,” said Mashaba. Law enforcement officials confiscated eight firearms and 40 rounds of ammunition during the operation. They also seized 14 vehicles, including two tipper trucks that were being used in illegal mining operations. According to Mashaba, the operation resulted in the confiscation of gold-bearing minerals, chrome, and counterfeit goods valued at thousands of rands.The police arrested a total of 932 suspects, of which 496 of those were undocumented foreign nationals. The arrested individuals face a total of 912 charges. Of the 932 arrests, Zimbabwean nationals comprised the largest group with 325 arrests.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Enkosi Selane at The Citizen

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page