By: Staff Reporter
A 30-year-old illegal miner was shot and arrested during a Vala Umgodi Operation on Wednesday in Simile Township, Nkanini Section, Sabie.
According to reports, members of the Combat Team based in Sabie received a tip-off from a reliable source about a group of zama zamas (foreign nationals) who were allegedly refining gold illegally and selling mercury at a specific address in the area.
Police operationalised the information and proceeded to the location. Upon arrival, members encountered three suspects who immediately opened fire and fled the scene. Police returned fire, shooting one of the suspects in the right thigh. He was subsequently arrested, while the other two suspects managed to escape.
The suspect, believed to be a Mozambican national, faces charges of possession of gold bearing material, possession of illicit mining equipment, attempted murder, and being an illegal immigrant. The suspect was initially admitted to Sabie Hospital under police guard and has since been discharged and placed in custody.
Fortunately, no police members were injured during the exchange of gunfire.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the arrest and thanked the public for the valuable information. “Illegal mining continues to threaten our economy and public safety. We will ensure that those who engage in such activities face the full might of the law,” he said