The success of a multi-disciplinary operation at Kleinzee on the Northern Cape coastline, in which hundreds of suspects were arrested, was severely impaired by the so-called incompetence of the Department of Home Affairs.
Last week, after a two-day joint operation led by the police in the Northern Cape that focused on illegal mining in the Kleinzee area, 867 people, of which the majority were undocumented, were arrested for various offences.
Numerous implements and digging equipment were also confiscated.
The detainees were transferred to holding facilities in several towns, and were due to appear in various magistrate’s courts.
However, over 750 of these suspected illegal foreign miners have been released after Home Affairs officials had failed to process them within the required 48 hours, and by late last week it was reported that these undocumented persons were returning to Kleinzee.
Adrian Roos, DA-MP, has asked why Home Affairs failed, while being fully aware of the operation.
