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Operation Vala Umgodi nets 18 000 in major crime crackdown

Operation Vala Umgodi nets 18 000 in major crime crackdown

In a bold move to dismantle illegal mining operations, the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) crackdown has resulted in over 18 000 arrests, predominantly targeting illegal immigrants, as part of efforts to cut off supplies and force miners out of the country’s dangerous shafts.

“Operation Vala Umgodi continues to register commendable progress where members are hard at work in preventing and combatting illicit mining activities across the country. Our members are still conducting patrols and standing static at disused and abandoned mine shafts in Stilfontein and in other hotspot areas,” National Commissioner for the South African Police Service, General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola, said on Sunday in Pretoria,

Operation Vala Umgodi started in December 2023. As a result of this initiative, 458 firearms and 12 000 rounds of ammunition have been seized during operations across the country

In addition, 283 trucks, 303 vehicles, and 84 big machinery are amongst the items that were confiscated from illegal mining operations. 

More than R5 million in cash and uncut diamonds worth R32 million have been seized.

Providing an update on the SAPS Nationwide Safer Festive Season Operations, Masemola said more than 1 700 illegal miners that were arrested from August 2024 in Stilfontein ,are still in police custody. 

Masemola said a total of 121 people have already been deported, which include 80 Mozambicans, 30 Basotho nationals, 10 Zimbabweans as well as one Congolese and Malawian.

“The Department of health forensic pathologists are busy with the autopsies with assistance of the SAPS victim identification centre (VIC), where fingerprints and sample for DNA analysis are being collected and sent to laboratory for analysis.

“Our teams have collected DNA [s a small amount of biological material, such as saliva, blood, hair, or skin cells, that contains genetic information] samples from the human remains, fingerprints and buccal samples from some family members who came forward. The process to identify who the deceased persons are / is still underway.

“On the issue surrounding the escape of Neo James Tshwaeli (Tiger) – a dedicated team of seasoned detectives and crime intelligence operatives have been piecing together information and this has so far resulted in four of our own members being arrested. The members have been removed from this operation and internal departmental proceedings are currently underway,” the National Commissioner said. -SAnews.gov.za

 

 

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Sun, 02/02/2025 – 12:50

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In a bold move to dismantle illegal mining operations, the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) crackdown has resulted in over 18 000 arrests, predominantly targeting illegal immigrants, as part of efforts to cut off supplies and force miners out of the country’s dangerous shafts.

“Operation Vala Umgodi continues to register commendable progress where members are hard at work in preventing and combatting illicit mining activities across the country. Our members are still conducting patrols and standing static at disused and abandoned mine shafts in Stilfontein and in other hotspot areas,” National Commissioner for the South African Police Service, General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola, said on Sunday in Pretoria,

Operation Vala Umgodi started in December 2023. As a result of this initiative, 458 firearms and 12 000 rounds of ammunition have been seized during operations across the country

In addition, 283 trucks, 303 vehicles, and 84 big machinery are amongst the items that were confiscated from illegal mining operations. 

More than R5 million in cash and uncut diamonds worth R32 million have been seized.

Providing an update on the SAPS Nationwide Safer Festive Season Operations, Masemola said more than 1 700 illegal miners that were arrested from August 2024 in Stilfontein ,are still in police custody. 

Masemola said a total of 121 people have already been deported, which include 80 Mozambicans, 30 Basotho nationals, 10 Zimbabweans as well as one Congolese and Malawian.

“The Department of health forensic pathologists are busy with the autopsies with assistance of the SAPS victim identification centre (VIC), where fingerprints and sample for DNA analysis are being collected and sent to laboratory for analysis.

“Our teams have collected DNA [s a small amount of biological material, such as saliva, blood, hair, or skin cells, that contains genetic information] samples from the human remains, fingerprints and buccal samples from some family members who came forward. The process to identify who the deceased persons are / is still underway.

“On the issue surrounding the escape of Neo James Tshwaeli (Tiger) – a dedicated team of seasoned detectives and crime intelligence operatives have been piecing together information and this has so far resulted in four of our own members being arrested. The members have been removed from this operation and internal departmental proceedings are currently underway,” the National Commissioner said. -SAnews.gov.za

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