Heavy duty tipper trucks as well as mining machinery were seized during a sting operation at a certain coal mine in Mooihoek, Piet Retief on Thursday, 11 April 2024.
The men and women in Blue, assigned for Operation Vala Umgodi in Mpumalanga, reacted to information provided by officials from the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) about illegal mining activities in the said area.
According to a report, mining activities were carried out in the area however the permit held by the mine was questionable.
During the operation, the mine manager, Mr Mbongiseni Josiah Nhlabathi (38) was found on site with some employees.
Upon checking the area in which the mine was operating, a permit with some discrepancies was produced. It was discovered that the DMR did not allocate the area as a mining site and hence this matter is subject to DMR investigation which is underway.
Be as it may, the mine manager was arrested for Contravention of the National Environmental Management Act though he was later released on free bail by the Piet Retief Magistrate Court on Friday, 12 April 2024.
A total of six tipper trucks as well as two light delivery vehicles were seized for further investigation.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has applauded the joint effort displayed by the SAPS members and officials from the DMR in the fight against illegal mining.
Mine manager arrested on allegations of illegal mining https://t.co/KLagHD5His#ArriveAlive #IllegalMining @SAPoliceService @TruckAndFreight pic.twitter.com/Q7t7x9ozwm
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) April 15, 2024
