POLICE in Welkom, Free State, this week raided an underground tuck shop used by illegal miners and seized laptops, cellphones, groceries and cash
"Sixteen illegal miners were busted while underground at Bambanani mine.
"We also found groceries valued at R200000, nine laptops and R31000 in cash at the underground shop," police spokesperson Captain Stephen Thakeng saidyesterday.
Also confiscated were landline phones, calculators, liquor and DVDs.
The police, with the help of whistle-blowers, have vowed to intensify the fight against illegal mining in the Matjhabeng area.
A number of suspects, most of them Lesotho nationals, had previously been arrested and mine property and gold-bearing material seized, Thakeng said.
The body of an illegal miner found dead underground last year at President Steyn Mine's shaft number 2 is still lying at the government mortuary.
"He is suspected to be an illegal miner because he is not known to the mine personnel. The body is badly burnt and it is not possible for it to be identified," Thakeng said.
He appealed to anyone who has lost their next of kin to go to the Welkom SAPS government mortuary.
Last week two people were arrested on being found transporting mining property worth R42000, stolen from shaft 4 at St Helena Mine.
Secret spaza shop
POLICE in Welkom, Free State, this week raided an underground tuck shop used by illegal miners and seized laptops, cellphones, groceries and cash
"Sixteen illegal miners were busted while underground at Bambanani mine.
"We also found groceries valued at R200000, nine laptops and R31000 in cash at the underground shop," police spokesperson Captain Stephen Thakeng saidyesterday.
Also confiscated were landline phones, calculators, liquor and DVDs.
The police, with the help of whistle-blowers, have vowed to intensify the fight against illegal mining in the Matjhabeng area.
A number of suspects, most of them Lesotho nationals, had previously been arrested and mine property and gold-bearing material seized, Thakeng said.
The body of an illegal miner found dead underground last year at President Steyn Mine's shaft number 2 is still lying at the government mortuary.
"He is suspected to be an illegal miner because he is not known to the mine personnel. The body is badly burnt and it is not possible for it to be identified," Thakeng said.
He appealed to anyone who has lost their next of kin to go to the Welkom SAPS government mortuary.
Last week two people were arrested on being found transporting mining property worth R42000, stolen from shaft 4 at St Helena Mine.
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