The Limpopo Police’s Vala Umgodi Task Team arrested four foreign nationals following the discovery of an illegal gold processing laboratory in Tzaneen on Saturday.
They nabbed three Zimbabweans and a Mozambican when they raided a plot along the R71 near Tarentaalrand, Mopani District, in the northern part of South Africa.
Zimbabweans John Vondo (39), Hardlife Manjoko (35), Biggie Chimwero (36) and Samuel Mashaba (46), a Mozambican national, appeared briefly before the Ritavi Magistrate’s Court outside Tzaneen town, on Monday, 10 February.
They faced charges of illegal processing of gold-bearing materials and were all remanded in police custody, until 18 February 2025, for a formal bail application.
Mashaba is facing an additional charge of contravening the South African immigration Act, after being found to be in the country without the necessary documentation.
According to the Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, two of these individuals are suspected to be the main kingpins behind the illegal mining activities across the province.
He said during the arrest, the police seized various items believed to have been used in the illegal processing of the minerals, including six 50kg containers with carbon ashes, presumed to be precious minerals, two 9kg of Afrax gas bottles, and a 3kg container of nitric acid.
They also left with a 40 kg container of sulfuric acid 98%, a 33 litre container of nitric acid, two Air Liquide industrial oxygen cylinders, two gauges with pipe, cutting nozzle bunches of steel wool.
Colonel Ledwaba added that two vehicles believed to be belonging to the two suspected kingpins were seized. These are a red Haval and a white Mercedes-Benz with Gauteng registration plates.
“The arrests came as a result of a well-coordinated, intelligence-driven operation carried out by the Mopani District Vala Umgodi Task Team, with support from the Tactical Joint Operational Center (TACJOC) Detectives and Airwing Drone Pilots” Ledwaba added.
Another three illegal miners were arrested for other unlawful activities in Giyani, about 100 kilometres away, on Sunday, February 9.
Colonel Ledwaba said the arrests came after the police foot patrols observed three illegal miners engaged in processing gold-bearing materials. Upon noticing the police, the suspects fled into the nearby bushes, dispersing in different directions.
“The Police’s further investigation led to the arrest of two (02) South African citizens and one (1) foreign national citizen, who were found in the act of processing presumed gold-bearing minerals in ok Mphamphuli village, outside Giyani.
“During the operation the Police seized tools associated with mining, such as spades, picks, bags containing presumed gold-bearing minerals, grinders, hammers, generators, undisclosed amount of cash a white a Ford Ranger, believed to have been used to transport the illegal materials from the mining site to the homestead, which were found at” Colonel Ledwaba added.
The Limpopo Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, commended the Vala Umgodi Task Team for their exemplary dedication and tactical expertise in addressing the ongoing challenges posed by illegal mining activities in the province.
