Altogether 130 undocumented persons were arrested and detained on Monday morning, 27 November, at the Nuttabooi and Bontekoei settlement near Kleinzee on the Northern Cape coastline.
This includes an Ethiopian male, a Swati male, 69 Zimbabwean males, 13 Zimbabwean females, 45 Lesotho males, and one Lesotho female said Col Cherelle Ehlers, media relations officer of the police in the Northern Cape.
Ehlers said numerous tools and equipment believed to be used in the commission of illicit mining activities were also confiscated.
A police helicopter assisted the ground forces with air support by locating persons attempting to flee.
This multi-disciplinary operation revolved around the apprehension of undocumented persons and the ensuing illicit mining activities in the Namakwa district.
The operation was led by Maj. Gen. Luntu Ngubelanga, deputy povincial commissioner for policing in the Northern Cape, accompanied by the Namakwa district commissioner, Brig. Schalk Andrews, provincial heads and members of provincial components and district units, as well as officials of the Department of Home Affairs.
Ngubelanga stated that these actions should be a deterrent and a message to illegal miners who display indifference towards the law that their criminality will not be tolerated. Resources have been fortified in the area to continue with actions addressing the eradication of illicit mining, he said.
All arrested persons will appear in the Port Nolloth Magistrates’ Court soon.
