EWN reports that more than 1,000 illegal miners were arrested at a mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga, on Friday afternoon in what police described as a massive clampdown operation by law enforcement and mine security.

The illegal miners were arrested during Operation Vala Umgodi at a shaft of the Sheba Gold Mine. Police said they had been closing in on the “zama zamas”, or illegal miners, since the start of the week. According to the police, the illegal miners have continuously frustrated operations at the Sheba mines, which are part of the historic Barberton Mines Complex.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli said Operation Vala Umgodi cut off supplies to the illegal miners, forcing them out of the shaft. He added that the number of illegal miners could surpass 1,000 with more “zama zamas” expected to emerge in coming hours. Mdhluli said the arrested miners would be charged with the contravention of the Immigration Act and were expected to appear in court within 48 hours.

The arrests come less than a year after a similar operation was conducted at an abandoned Stilfontein mine where at least 90 illegal miners lost their lives.

• Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Nokukhanya Mntambo at EWN
• Read too, Police operation halts supplies entering illegal Mpumalanga mine, arrests 1000, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)

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