Mpumalanga acting top cop praises law enforcement for making in-roads in fighting illegal mining

JOHANNESBURG - Mpumalanga's acting police commissioner, Zeph Mkhwanazi, has praised the province's law enforcement branches for making in-roads in the fight against illegal mining.

Nineteen more so-called zama zamas were arrested during the police's Vala Umgodi operations at the abandoned Barberton mineshaft this week.

Police also seized several firearms and explosives.

These suspects are expected to appear in court on Monday.

They're facing charges of illegal mining and contravening the Immigration Act.
 
Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Donald Mdhluli: "Intelligence-driven operation conducted by members deployed for Operation Vala Umgodi in Mpumalanga resulted in the arrest of 19 suspects aged between 22 and 39 on Thursday, the 26th of December 2024 in Barberton old mine. Among the arrested suspects, eleven are foreign nationals, whereas eight are South African nationals."