
Third batch of zama zamas from Sheba mine set to appear in court
The miners face charges including theft, trespassing and possession of gold-bearing equipment.
Provincial police spokesperson, Donald Mdhluli: "It will depend, these two, on their health status whether they will appear with the 28 if they are better then they will appear, if not then it will be their appearance in absentia."
Operation Vala Umgodi is ongoing, as police and mine management continue to tighten security on the mine and monitor the extensive network of illegal mining routes.
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Third batch of zama zamas from Sheba mine set to appear in court
The rest of that group, mostly foreign nationals without passports, were remanded in custody, along with the majority of the 496 who appeared earlier this week. The miners face charges including theft, trespassing and possession of gold-bearing equipment. Provincial police spokesperson, Donald Mdhluli: "It will depend, these two, on their health status whether they will appear with the 28 if they are better then they will appear, if not then it will be their appearance in absentia." Operation Vala Umgodi is ongoing, as police and mine management continue to tighten security on the mine and monitor the extensive network of illegal mining routes.

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6 days ago
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Police conducting profile checks, address verifications on illegal miners arrested at Sheba Gold Mine
BARBERTON - Police are conducting profile checks and address verifications on the illegal miners arrested at Sheba gold mine, including searches for prior convictions both locally and in their home countries. These verifications come after a series of court appearances following Operation Vala Umgodi, a massive police sweep that netted over 550 illegal miners in Barberton since last week. On Wednesday, the case against 24 of the miners was postponed to next Wednesday to allow time for bail applications. Most of the undocumented miners have chosen to bring private legal representation, even though the court has reminded them several times that Legal Aid is available for free. "Some of the suspects indicated that they come from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, others are from South Africa. So, two [South Africans] of which were verified, they were granted bail of R2,000," said Mpumalanga provincial police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli.