Twenty-eight suspects were arrested across the Theunissen and Welkom policing precincts during Operation Prosper Karabo’s latest push against illicit mining in the Free State, police said in a statement shared on Friday.

The police, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and mine security personnel joined forces in the Lejweleputswa District to crack down on illegal mining activity across the region.

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On Saturday 3 October, police targeted illegal mining in Theunissen, where five women and two men aged between 24 and 35 were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act and 13 women aged between 22 and 46 were arrested for trespassing on mining premises.

Acting on information about illicit mining activity in the Welkom mining area, police arrested a 32-year-old man found in possession of suspected gold-bearing material (GBM). The suspected GBM, weighing 17,9 kilograms, was seized.

Later that evening, the operation moved to Reahola and ARM-7 in Welkom, where seven men aged between 19 and 59 were caught conducting an illegal mining operation and arrested for possession of suspected GBM.

Police also confiscated equipment believed to have been used during the illegal operations, along with suspected GBM weighing 75,6 kilograms. All seized items were booked in as evidence for further investigation.

Lejweleputswa District Commissioner Major General Tholie Afonso praised the team for dealing decisively with illicit mining in the district.

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