Nine suspects arrested for mining chrome illegally

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Nine suspects have been arrested for mining chrome illegally in Atok, Limpopo.

The suspects aged between 18 and 33 appeared before Sekhukhune magistrates’ court on Friday.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, a truck, six generators, eight jackhammers, and seven water pumps were confiscated when the suspects were arrested separately.

“The first suspect was arrested on Wednesday, while driving a UD truck full of chrome on his way to deliver to Johannesburg.

“Without proof of mining, two suspects were arrested at the Atok mine.

“Six other suspects were apprehended the following day, at the Atok mine,” Ledwaba said.

They were remanded in custody until their next court appearance on Friday, October 20, for further police investigation and bail applications.

Provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has welcomed the arrest and subsequent court appearance of the suspects.

She further said that this will serve as a sign of the police’s attempts to uphold the law and stop these crimes.

Meanwhile, six undocumented foreign nationals appeared before the Graskop magistrates’ court for possession of illegal mining equipment.

This follows an operation conducted in Pilgrims Rest, Mpumalanga where equipment used during illegal mining activities were seized.

Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said a number of casualties and fatalities have been reported in the past in areas where illegal mining activities are conducted.

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Police in Mpumalanga has taken to themselves to bring an end to such activities to save lives and protect the country precious materials.

“Our members recovered six generators, four water pumps, five 14kg oxygen gas bottles, three 9kg gas bottles, three 19kg gas bottles, seven Phendukas, seven Phenduka motors, four shovels as well as one small mass weighing scale.

“All the items were found abandoned when the suspected illegal miners saw police fled the scene.

“Six people were also found in the bushes, five of them undocumented Mozambican nationals and one undocumented Zimbabwean national,” Mohlala stated.

The Zimbabwean national was released on R2 000 fine whilst the remaining five were remanded in custody for different dates ranging from October 16 to 19.