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Limpopo Police Arrest 33 Foreign Nationals in Anti-Illegal Mining Operation
Police in Limpopo have arrested 33 foreign nationals as part of ongoing efforts to address illegal mining activities and related crimes in the province.
On Saturday, 29 March 2025, authorities apprehended 21 suspects, ranging in age from 17 to 52, in Vhembe District. These individuals were arrested for violating the Immigration Act at a weighbridge in the Beitbridge policing area.
Additionally, five foreign nationals aged between 18 and 55 were arrested in Mopani and Capricorn Districts during routine operations targeting illegal mining sites across the region.
These arrests are part of “Operation Vala Umgodi,” an initiative designed to curb illegal mining and other criminal activities in Limpopo.
Also Read: Toxic Gold Dust: The Deadly Legacy of Mining Haunts Soweto’s Snake Park
In a separate incident, six more individuals were arrested for immigration violations in the Capricorn District. One of the suspects, a 37-year-old male, attempted to bribe police officers with R1,500 and was subsequently arrested for bribery.
These operations are ongoing, and all arrested individuals are set to appear in local Magistrate’s Courts soon as investigations continue.
In addition, two men, aged 31 and 49, were sentenced by the Sekhukhune Regional Court for illegal mining and immigration violations. The arrests occurred during a police operation at Atok in May 2024 when the suspects were found using mining equipment without proper documentation.
The two men were given sentences ranging from fines to imprisonment. Mahleka Mashura, 49, and Ivan Mhuru, 31, both received four months in prison for illegal mining and two months for immigration violations, with sentences to run concurrently.
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the provincial commissioner of Limpopo, praised the efforts of the officers involved in the ongoing operation.
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Sourced:The Citizen
