More than 50 000 illegal miners have been arrested in different provinces since the establishment of Operation Vala Umgodi a year ago. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola led a delegation to the South shaft in Sabie, Mpumalanga.

Various police units and private security company personnel are currently retrieving over 100 illegal miners underground at the shaft.

Masemola elaborates on how police discovered the shaft.

“On the 28th of November members of Lydenburg K9 were busy conducting an operation in Sabie, Pilgrim’s Rest to be specific, when they received a call about a shooting in the area in the bush. The members did respond and a few metres to the shaft, shots were fired from this place. The members did respond, and they picked up about 11 suspects armed with rifles. A member from K9 was shot and injured, he was taken to hospital in the process of shooting, three suspects were fatally wounded.”

VIDEO | Masemola has commended the work done by all the stakeholders involved. 

During yesterday’s operations, eight illegal miners were brought to the surface and the bodies of three deceased illegal miners were retrieved.

“At present moment we are looking at various resources that can be of assistance. Whether from government or the private sector. We must say the situation here is different unlike in Stilfontein, which is several kilometres going down. Here, we are told it’s only about 50 metres going down. This operation is conducted with the utmost precision which it deserves and we will also make a stopover at Stilfontein when we leave here,” adds Masemola.

#sapsHQ [READ] Speaker Notes: Sabie visit by the National Commissioner of the #SAPS General Fannie Masemola.

According to those that have resurfaced (16), there are more than 100 illegal miners that are still underground. It should be noted that all those who are retrieved… pic.twitter.com/vDwL2u2Ie9

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) December 5, 2024