CELE SAYS NO RESOURCES WILL BE SPARED IN FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL MINING

Police Minister Bheki Cele made the comments during his visit to Stilfontein in the North West on Wednesday following the arrest of 20 illegal miners at an abandoned mineshaft.

Police Minister Bheki Cele at the Stilfontein Police station in the North West to get a brief from law enforcement following the recent take down operation where 20 illegal miners were arrested at a nearby mineshaft, 11 October 2022. Picture: Nokukhanya Mntambo/Eyewitness News

Nokukhanya Mntambo | 12 October 2022 08:00

JOHANNESBURG - Police Minister Bheki Cele said that law enforcement would not spare any resources in the fight against illegal mining in the country.

Cele made the comments during his visit to Stilfontein in the North West on Wednesday following the arrest of 20 illegal miners at an abandoned mineshaft.

They include fifteen foreign nationals and five South Africans.

The takedown operation also saw the seizure of 24 firearms, ammunition and cash.

The suspects are set to appear in court on Wednesday morning.

Cele said that he was confident that successful prosecutions will follow.

"But as the police, we will support the issue of finding these people, arresting them and sending them to the court and we would ask the court that they are kept for a long time because clearly, they meant business of terror and of violence," said Cele.