PRETORIA - The country’s war on illegal mining isn’t striking gold just yet.
Only months after a serious illegal mining standoff in Stilfontein saw nearly a hundred lives lost, the battle continues.
In Mpumalanga, 13 people have been arrested for suspected illegal mining activities in Sabie.
The group was caught red-handed in the Simile informal settlement, operating without proper authorisation.
Additionally, the group had no valid IDs either.
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The South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Amanda van Wyk says the suspects who are illegal in the country have been detained and will appear before court this week.
She says the suspects arrested were found will be charged with contravention of immigration Act.
According to van Wyk a similar burst operation was conducted in Barberton wherein 27 suspects between 20 and 47 were arrested