‘We are in charge’ - SAPS on Stilfontein
Police have declared the illegal mining situation in Stilfontein under control, despite the continued resurfacing of new miners.
In January, 48 illegal miners were arrested, and last week, five more were caught at Margaret Shaft.
Responding to media inquiries, National Deputy Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili stressed that the ongoing arrests prove the police are effectively managing the situation and maintaining control.
“The fact that they were coming out and were arrested is an indication that we are very much available in that space.
“(Illegal mining operation) Vala Umgodi will continue as long as there is illegal mining in the country, so we will still be operating in Stilfontein and other parts of the country,” she said. “So, we are in control of the situation, and there will be arrests of those who continue to emerge.”
On Sunday, Mosikili and National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola briefed the media on the festive season anti-crime operations.
The police's Operation Vala Umgodi yielded over 18,000 arrests, the majority of which were undocumented migrants.
“More than 1,700 illegal miners arrested since August 2024 in Stilfontein are still in police custody, 121 have already been deported, including 80 Mozambicans, 30 Basotho nationals, 10 Zimbabweans, and one each from Congo and Malawi,” Masemola revealed.
“Our teams have collected DNA samples from human remains, as well as fingerprints and buccal samples from family members who came forward. The process of identifying the deceased is still ongoing.”
Masemola also addressed the escape of illegal mining kingpin James 'Tiger' Tshwaeli, a Lesotho national, noting that a dedicated team of detectives and crime intelligence operatives have gathered information that led to the arrest of four police officers for allegedly aiding his escape.
READ MORE: SAPS: Let's not speculate on 'Tiger's' death
“The members have been removed from this operation, and internal departmental proceedings are currently underway,” he added.
Tshwaeli was arrested in January after emerging from an unused shaft.
Regarding the arrested police officers, Masemola stated, “At the end of the day, it will be proven whether he was aided or not. As to how long they were involved, I don’t know, but they were part of the Vala Umgodi operation and have been working there.”
ALSO READ
