Operation Vala Umgoli continues to yield positive results and this time around, members received information which led them to the arrest of 14 suspects, aged between 24 and 40 at Sabie on Monday, 24 February 2025, for various offences, including unlawful possession of live ammunition, possession of illegal mining equipment as well as Contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa.
According to a report, members were alerted about a white Toyota Quantum traveling in the direction of Sabie, heading towards Graskop, with suspected illegal miners. These men are suspected to be Lesotho nationals but without valid documentation. They further had illegal mining equipment in their possession.
It was during this time when the team swiftly followed the information and stopped a suspicious minibus, full of male occupants. Whilst searching the said vehicle, members learned that the 14 occupants had carried some mining equipment and supplies inside the vehicle.
The astute members also discovered that amongst the men, one (01) was in possession of some ammunition.
The suspects were then detained and charged accordingly. They are expected to appear at the Sabie Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 26 February 2025.
Meanwhile the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr.) Zeph Mkhwanazi has reiterated that Operation Vala Umgodi is here to stay and thus far, the achievements made are enormous.
