Over 50 000 Illegal Miners Arrested In A Year: Masemola

More than 50 000 illegal miners have been arrested in different provinces since the establishment of Operation Vala Umgodi a year ago. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola led a delegation to the South shaft in Sabie, Mpumalanga.

Various police units and private security company personnel are currently retrieving over 100 illegal miners underground at the shaft .

Masemola elaborates on how police discovered the shaft.

"On the 28th of November members of Lydenburg K9 were busy conducting an operation in Sabie, Pilgrims Rest to be specific, when they received a call about a shooting in the area in the bush. The members did respond and a few metres to the shaft, shots were fired from this place. The members did respond, and they picked up about 11 suspects armed with rifles. A member from K9 was shot and injured, he was taken to hospital in the process of shooting, three suspects were fatally wounded."