Four suspected illegal miners, found in possession of materials containing gold valued at over R3 million, are set to appear in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The arrests were made during a raid on Thursday as part of the ongoing Operation Vala Umgodi, aimed at curbing illicit mining activities in the region.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda confirmed that officers were acting on intelligence regarding illegal mining operations in the area. "Upon arrival, the four suspects were caught processing gold and were found with mining equipment, including explosives," Netshiunda said.
The suspects, aged between 27 and 40, are facing charges related to illegal mining and possession of prohibited materials. They will appear before the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 22 November.