Latest news with #DonaldMdluli
The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
494 illegal miners in court as 24 more emerge from hiding at Sheba Mine in Mpumalanga
As 494 illegal miners who were arrested last week appear in the Barberton Magistrate's Court in Mpumalanga on Tuesday, a further 24 have surfaced at the Sheba Mine. The suspects, who appeared in groups of 50 in the dock, face charges of trespassing, possession of gold-bearing materials, and the contravention of the Immigration Act. The arrests stem as a result of the South African Police Service's (SAPS) national Operation Vala Umgodi, which tackles the scourge of illegal mining within the borders of South Africa. The suspects, foreign nationals, are from eSwatini and Mozambique and include minors. Of the 494 suspects, the court granted 26 suspects with fixed South African addresses R2,000 bail. The others have been remanded in custody. The provincial police spokesperson, Donald Mdluli said the illegal miners resurfaced on Monday and this came after police cut off access to their food supply. 'Twenty-four suspects have been arrested at the same mine where the 494 were arrested. Now, we have about 518 suspects who have since been arrested. The other interesting one is that there is a firearm that has been confiscated from one of the suspects. We are expecting more [to resurface], but that is dependent on the re-planning, re-assessing, and ensuring more resources are brought to ensure they resurface,' Mdluli told the media. More illegal miners are expected to surface this week. The total number of illegal miners in custody is 518. The matter has been postponed until August 11. [email protected] IOL
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Groups warn against heavy-handed raids in tackling illegal miners
Organisations urge government to avoid repeating deadly Stilfontein tactics while addressing illegal mining in Barberton. Organisations fighting for the rights of mining-affected communities have cautioned government when dealing with illegal miners believed to be trapped in a Barberton mine in Mpumalanga. The organisations were reacting to an incident in which police reportedly forced out about 1 000 miners from an old mine shaft. According to some sources, there are many miners underground expected to resurface, although the area is being monitored and guarded by the police. Groups urge caution after police forced out illegal miners 'The police must use proper and legal procedures to force the miners out instead of cutting food supply and water like they did in Stilfontein mine, North West. We were told that others are still inside as they ran back to avoid arrest,' said Zethu Hlatshwayo, spokesperson for the National Association of Artisanal Miners. Another association, Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua), welcomed the arrests. ALSO READ: 'We know it's wrong, but they're trying to make a living,' say families of arrested illegal miners 'We do not yet know the full facts of the situation, or whether miners have safe options to exit. But the blockade of supplies and mass arrests under Operation Vala Umgodi raise a critical alarm. 'If those underground cannot leave safely, then the state must tread carefully, lest it repeats the same heinous mistake, with lethal consequences,' Macua said. 'It must be stressed that Stilfontein, too, was private mining property. This reinforces a longstanding and disturbing pattern: the state mobilises swiftly and violently to protect corporate assets, not to safeguard the rights, lives or livelihoods of poor communities.' Stilfontein situation Earlier this year, more than 100 illegal miners allegedly died of hunger after police reportedly cut the supply of food and water, forcing those trapped to spend days without food. Mpumalanga police neither agreed nor denied that there were trapped miners underground, as they did not respond to The Citizen's questions. ALSO READ: Gauteng's highways, bridges, and suburbs on the brink of physical collapse Over the weekend, Saps provincial spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdluli said 1 000 or even more illegal immigrants were apprehended. 'The collaboration between the National Roving team, K9 [dog] Unit, Task Force, Vukalanga Security and members from the Combat and Proactive team began on 28 July. Most of miners without valid docs to be in the country 'It has been discovered through the operation that most of the miners, if not all, are foreign nationals without valid documentation to be in the country. 'Some could be underage, hence police are working in conjunction with officials from the department of home affairs, the department of minerals and energy, the national prosecution authority, as well as other law enforcement agencies.'
eNCA
02-08-2025
- eNCA
Massive illegal mining operation unearthed in Barberton
Barberton arrests BARBERTON - Authorities have made a major breakthrough in Mpumalanga, uncovering what could be one of the largest illegal mining busts to date. Close to 1,000 undocumented foreign nationals were retrieved from a mine shaft in Barberton, Mpumalanga, on Friday during Operation Vala Umgodi. The suspects are believed to be illegal miners, some possibly underage, operating without permits or documentation. These developments could constitute one of the largest illegal mining busts to date. But how was it achieved? Mpumalanga Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdluli, discussed the case with eNCA.
