The Police in Driekop have arrested a 30-year-old male suspect, a foreign national for possession of suspected stolen precious metal and the contravention of immigration act on Tuesday 24 October 2023 at Driekop in Sekhukhune District.
It is reported that members of the SAPS Sekhukhune District Task Team during their tour of their duties, engaged in a Disruptive Operation in the evening of Tuesday 24 October 2023 at about 20:00. They managed to arrest one suspect who was driving in a white truck, pulling two trailers along the R37 Provincial road at Driekop fully loaded with chrome.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver of the truck did not have the proper documentations for ferrying and exporting minerals subsequently he was found to be an illegal Foreigner in the Republic of South Africa. Further investigation revealed that the suspect was on his way to Swaziland for delivery of the said Chrome from Mooihoek mine.
The police have expanded their operation to establish the origin of the suspected stolen Chrome and it was found that it was from the illegal mining site within the surrounding area of Sekhukhune.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in LImpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe applauded the Teams involved in the success and further pointed out that the Illegal Mining is a Problem which is crippling the Economy of the Province and therefore is a serious Crime.
The suspect is expected to appear before Sekhukhune Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 26 October 2023 facing charges of unlawful possession of precious metals, contravention of mining act (illegal mining) and contravention of immigration act.
SAPS Sekhukhune District apprehends alleged illegal miner while transporting stolen chrome https://t.co/FjcTVjLrqW#ArriveAlive #IllegalMining #TransportingStolenChrome @SAPoliceService @TruckAndFreight pic.twitter.com/NgVPPSHYJk
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 26, 2023
