45-Year-Old Suspected Illegal Miner Arrested in Polokwane

POLOKWANE: A 45-year-old man was arrested for suspected illegal mining activities during an operation conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Waterberg District and the Illegal Mining Task Team. The operation took place at Mohlabaneng Maroteng village under Mahwelereng policing area on Friday, 10 November 2023, around 11:00.

According to South African Police Service, The police intercepted the suspect while he was loading river sand into a tipper truck. Another individual, the driver of a front loader truck, fled the scene, abandoning the vehicle. The police confiscated both the tipper truck loaded with river sand and the front loader truck.

Limpopo’s Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, praised the police team for their efforts to combat illegal mining, which negatively impacts the province’s economy and violates national laws. The arrested suspect is scheduled to appear before the Mahwelereng Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 13 November 2023. Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.