Operation Vala Umgodi: Six Arrested In Free State For Illegally Mining Gold

Free State police have arrested six people in a blitz operation to clamp down on illegal mining.

Dubbed 'Operation Vala Umgodi', hundreds of alleged illegal miners have been arrested and appeared in court since its launch, earlier this year.

In the latest case, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane, said a team raided G-hostel where they arrested two men, aged 47 and 49, who were allegedly washing gold.

'The pair were arrested and the gold bearing material and gold processing equipment were seized. A case docket was opened at Thabong police station,' Covane said.

He explained that using drone equipment, police were further able to spot a Toyota sedan near shaft 4 in the Beatrix mining area.