The 20 suspects arrested during an operation at which a firearms cache was seized at a mine shaft in Stilfontein in the North West on Monday, have been remanded in custody.
The accused, aged between 19 and 40, on Tuesday appeared before the Stilfontein Magistrate's court. The case was postponed to 18 October 2022 for verification of addresses and their immigration status.
Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said another suspect was arrested on the same day, later on the day at his home in Stilfontein.
“The suspect was seen in the footage collected during surveillance, with his vehicle delivering goods at the shaft on several occasions. The case against the 21 accused was postponed to 18 October 2022 for verification of addresses and their immigration status,” she said.
They were arrested by a team led by the Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation assisted by members of the Hawks' Tactical Management Section, Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, District Illegal Mining Task Team, Tactical Response Team, Bidvest Protea Coin, and Harmony Gold mine.
Mogale said: “The operation comes following weeks of surveillance into the alleged illegal mining activities of the suspects resulting in the arrest of 20 suspects and the seizure of 15 AK47s, six hunting rifles, two shotguns and one R5, boxes full of ammunition, explosives and an undisclosed amount of money.”
Also scheduled to appear before the Stilfontein Magistrate's court Wednesday were 88 alleged illegal miners who were arrested in Orkney on 20 October 2021 where 11 firearms, ammunition, illegal mining paraphernalia, gold bearing material and food was seized.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday three suspects were arrested after the police operationalised information regarding individuals alleged to have been in possession of firearms.
Mogale said the trio was traveling in a taxi from Lesotho to Klerksdorp.
“Upon arrival at Klerksdorp, the suspects were searched and two pistols were found in their possession,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
