Prisons overcrowded after over 500 arrests
BARBERTON- Operation Vala uMgodi led to the arrest of over 550 Zama Zamas at the Sheba mine in Mpumalanga.
Last week over 400 illegal miners were arrested at Sheba Mine with 24 more surfacing on Monday.
Consequently, holding cells are feeling the pressure.
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BARBERTON - As groups of the illegal miners apprehended in Barberton appear in court, more continue to surface from Sheba mine. On Thursday evening, law enforcement indicated that about twenty more zama zamas are believed to be emerging to the surface. Mpumalanga's acting police commissioner, Zeph Mkhwanazi, has assured the public that the situation is 'under control' following a massive raid on illegal miners. Over 550 Zama Zamas have been arrested at the Sheba mine as part of Operation Vala uMgodi. Mkhwanazi says that police have sufficient capacity to house all the suspects. They have been split up and spread across various facilities. Mpumalanga community safety MEC, Jackie Macie, says they're working closely with intelligence agencies to track where the gold is taken once it has been mined by zama zamas.
eNCA
3 days ago
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Prisons overcrowded after over 500 arrests
Barberton arrests BARBERTON- Operation Vala uMgodi led to the arrest of over 550 Zama Zamas at the Sheba mine in Mpumalanga. Last week over 400 illegal miners were arrested at Sheba Mine with 24 more surfacing on Monday. Consequently, holding cells are feeling the pressure.
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3 days ago
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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.
