GAUTENG. – A total of 121 alleged illegal miners have been arrested and five firearms have been recovered during Operation Prosper/Karabo at Mphahla settlement in the Fochville policing area.
Col. Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, police spokesperson, says various police units in Gauteng participated in the operation together with members of the defence force, the Hawks, immigration officials from the department of home affairs and Sibanye-Stillwater's tactical security team. The operation began at approximately 03:00 this morning, after which defence force members cordoned off the area before police and the mine's tactical security team entered.
Five firearms, including three pistols, an AK-47 rifle and a homemade pistol, as well as ammunition, were recovered. Police also confiscated equipment linked to illegal mining, including pans, gas cylinders and gold-bearing material. Operation Prosper is continuing as part of efforts to target illegal mining and related crime in Gauteng.
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This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
