The police in Vhembe District have through a joint operation pounced on six male suspects for illegal mining activities and contravention of the Immigration Act on Sunday, 31 December 2023 at Muchipisi village, outside Malamulele.
It is reported that members of both Vhembe and Mopani Districts Anti-Illegal Mining Task Teams have jointly conducted Operation Vala Umgodi and successfully arrested six male suspects aged between 18 and 44 years old while they were illegally digging and processing the precious metals at an illegal mining site at Muchipisi.
The police have confiscated mining equipment which were used in the commission of the crime that included 03 x spades, 01x shovel, 03x hammers, 01x wheelbarrow, 04x pendukas, 01 x alpha motor, 02 x pick and 02 x fan belts. It is reported that preliminary investigations revealed that four of the suspects are undocumented foreign nationals.
The suspects are expected to appear before Malamulele Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 02 January 2024.