Hawks left a 29-year-old Zama Zama boss in tears after making a bust worth R800,000

The Hawks, in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies, made a significant arrest in Ga-Manyaka outside Burgersfort.

A suspected illegal miner, aged 29, was apprehended during a multidisciplinary operation conducted by the Polokwane-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, alongside the DPCI Head Office, Lebowakgomo Local Criminal Record Centre, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, and State Security Agency.

The suspect was caught engaging in mining activities without the required permit.

During the operation, the team successfully confiscated illegal mining equipment, which included generators, a tractor loader backhoe valued at R700,000, 86 wheelbarrows, and 11 jackhammers. The seized equipment alone amounted to a value exceeding R800,000. The suspect is expected to face illegal mining charges and will appear in the Mecklenburg Magistrate’s Court on May 22, 2023. The authorities have emphasized that further disruptive operations will be carried out as part of their ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining activities.

Major General Gopz Govender, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province, commended the team for their outstanding work. He expressed their unwavering commitment to tackling illegal mining in the province through continuous disruptive operations, ensuring that all illegal miners are held accountable for their actions.

Illegal mining in South Africa is a serious issue that not only has detrimental effects on the economy and environment but also poses a significant risk to public safety. This illicit activity is closely associated with various heinous crimes that plague the nation, exacerbating the already high levels of violence and lawlessness.

Illegal mining operations often occur in abandoned or disused mines, where individuals and criminal syndicates exploit the mineral resources without proper authorization or adherence to safety regulations. These activities attract organized criminal groups, who engage in violent and illegal practices to control and profit from the illicit mining trade.