KEY POINTS
- Vala Umgodi nets 34 arrests in two provinces.
- Illicit mining equipment and gold seized in Thabong.
- Operations disrupt organised crime linked to illegal mining.
Multi-disciplinary teams in South Africa’s Northern Cape have arrested 34 suspects in a sweeping crackdown on illegal mining and immigration offences.
The arrests, made between 7 and 9 August, came as part of Operation Vala Umgodi a joint initiative between the South African Police Service (SAPS), private security, and also other agencies to combat illicit mining and related crimes.
The coordinated action also targeted hotspots in Barkly West and Kleinzee, where suspects were caught mining illegally and violating immigration laws. Police say the operation is also part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks fuelling illegal mining in the region.
Vala Umgodi illegal mining arrests intensify
In Namakwa, three individuals were arrested at a private site in Kleinzee for illegal mining and contravening immigration laws. SAPS said the operation highlights its commitment to eradicating illicit mining in the province, a crime they further consider a primary driver of broader criminal activity.
The Free State also saw intensified activity under Vala Umgodi, with police reporting multiple arrests and the seizure of gold-bearing materials, mining equipment, ammunition, and drugs over the past week.
Equipment, gold, and firearms seized
On 8 August, a 57-year-old woman in Thabong was caught with gold-bearing material with also illicit mining tools. That same day, two foreign nationals were also arrested nearby for possessing gold-processing equipment and entering the country illegally.
Furthermore in Wepener, police seized live ammunition and drugs from two suspects who resisted arrest. Near Odendaalsrus, four men were detained after being intercepted with an excavator allegedly used for illegal gold mining.
Operations expand across multiple towns
Police said more than 110 suspects were arrested in Ventersburg, Henneman, Dewetsdorp, and Bothaville for crimes ranging from trespassing to contravening the Immigration Act. Authorities vow the Vala Umgodi illegal mining arrests will further continue as part of a sustained campaign to dismantle organised crime networks tied to illicit resource extraction.
