11 Illegal Mining Suspects Arrested At Nuttabooi Informal Settlement

Eleven people have been arrested at the Nuttabooi informal settlement in Kleinzee, in the Northern Cape, during Operation Vala Umgodi. Police say nine suspects were arrested for being in the country illegally, while the other two were arrested for illegal mining.

Two other people were fined for selling liquor without licences. SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Molefi Shemane says equipment believed to be used in the commission of a crime and liquor were confiscated.

Police deployed at Operation Vala Umgodi received information from Crime Intelligence about people who are involved in illegal mining activities and who are allegedly in the country illegally at Nuttabooi informal settlement in Kleinzee, on Saturday, 25 January 25. This led to the arrest of nine suspects between 28 and 44-years-old for allegedly being in the country illegally after they failed to produce any documentation that allowed them to be in the country. The multi-disciplinary team proceeded and arrested two suspects, aged 40 and 42 years old, for illegal mining.