The South African Police Service (SAPS) swooped on two suspects caught red-handed in a large-scale illegal sand mining operation in Mopani District in Limpopo on the evening of September 17.
The bust, which occurred just before nightfall, was part of Operation Vala Umgodi, a joint effort by the Crime Intelligence Unit and the Mopani Illegal Mining Task Team, aimed at cracking down on the rampant sand theft threatening the regions natural resources.
At about 5.55pm, police were deployed to monitor trucks that were driving into the mining sites being loaded with sand, said police spokesperson, colonel Malesela Ledwaba.
The suspects, aged 26 and 43, arrested while allegedly operating an excavator and a tipper truck near the Klein Letaba River. Police were initially assigned to check trucks approaching mining sites. The breakthrough occurred after police were tipped off about unauthorised activity.
Police tactically approached the mining site and blocked all possible exits for the suspects not to evade an arrest.
