SA Hawks arrest 20 in North West mine as they inte...

SA Hawks arrest 20 in North West mine as they intensify war on illegal miners

<strong>20 arrested in North West mine as Hawks clamp down on illegal miners</strong><br /><br />The North West Hawks are raiding a mine in Stilfontein and have arrested 20 people believed to be illegal miners.<br /><br />Hawks spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso told News24 that several law enforcement units are involved in the operation to tackle illegal mining in the area.<br /><br />She said authorities also seized firearms, explosives, ammunition, and an undisclosed amount of money.<br /><br /><em>- Cebelihle Bhengu<br /><br />Photo: Guns and ammunition seized by the authorities. Credit: Hawks</em> — *Some of the guns and ammunition seized by the authorities. Photo credit: Hawks*

South African special law enforcement unit, North West Hawks have arrested 20 people believed to be illegal miners.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso said the several law enforcement units involved in the operation to tackle illegal mining in the area also seized firearms, explosives, ammunition, and an undisclosed amount of money.

South Africa is clamping down on illegal mining in the area since Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant Elias Mawela declared war on illegal miners earlier in the year.

The declaration was sparked by an incident in July, when eight women were raped by a gang of illegal miners in West Village, Krugersdorp while they were shooting a music video.

Last week six suspects were arrested while a seventh one got away. They are believed to be some of those who promoted criminal activity by buying gold from the illegal miners.

At the time of the arrest it was said that the six were Zimbabweans but when they appeared in court on 5 October their lawyer claimed that they were all South Africans.

The State however objected and said only two of the suspects were South African and said the other four were foreigners, without identifying their nationalities. Some Zimbabweans and Mozambicans have been among the Zama Zamas- illegal miners netted so far in the sweep.

In August law enforcement agents announced that they had arrested 130 illegal miners and vowed to continue the crackdown.

“We will leave no stone unturned and to those who are still out there, either you hand yourself in or we will be knocking on your door,” said West Rand District Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana.