Thirty-three alleged illegal miners are expected to appear before the Giyani Magistrate’s court on charges of illegal mining in Limpopo.
They were arrested by the Hawks on Friday for allegedly mining at the Ellerton rehabilitated mine at Nhlaniki village outside Giyani.
Mining equipment worth millions of rand, vehicles and camping tents were also seized during the arrest.
Hawks spokesperson Matimba Maluleke says, “The multidisciplinary operation ensued following an outcry by the local community about the illegal mining of gold at Elletorn mine that was closed by the DMR in 2016… the team swooped on the abandoned mine and seized gold bearing material five vehicles and several mining equipment including two generators mining drill machines, camping tents industrial hammers and a sweet valued at
R500 000.”
