Twenty-eight suspected illegal miners will appear in the Orkney Magistrate’s Court in the North West on Monday on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, attempted murder and contravention of the Immigration Act.
The suspects were arrested last Wednesday.
Provincial police spokesperson, Adele Myburgh, says during an exchange of fire between the illegal miners and police, one suspect was wounded and later died in hospital.
“The information led them to a group of illegal miners and they were being transported by three taxis as well as a bakkie in Orkney. When they stopped them, some of them jumped out trying to get away. There were shots fired towards police and police returned fired and one of the suspects was then wounded and then later died whilst being treated at a nearby hospital. There was also a 9mm pistol that was found and ammunition. They’re Lesotho citizens, there’s a lot of mine shafts in the Orkney, Stilfontein, and Khuma area that are definitely being used. Exactly where they stay in South Africa, that still forms part of our investigation.”
