JOHANNESBURG – At least 122 illegal miners have been arrested on Gauteng’s West Rand in a joint operation involving the army and police.
An undisclosed number of firearms, ammunition and gold-bearing material were also seized.
The arrests form part of Operation Prosper, a joint operation between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
READ | Homeowner arrested for harbouring illegal miners in Westonaria
Operational teams, working with Sibanye-Stillwater mine security and following up on intelligence, swooped on the area at 3am on Tuesday.
Some of the suspects are undocumented foreign nationals. They are expected to face charges of illegal mining, possession of gold-bearing material, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.