Seven suspects were caught red-handed washing gold-bearing sand on Saturday, 5 October, in Thabong, Welkom.
On the day, Operation Vala uMgodi operators executed various sweep operational concepts through flash points in Thabong.
At about 13:15, the team pounced on the suspects who were busy washing gold ore from gold-bearing
sand.
Gold-bearing material weighing at 40.02 kg, one self-made phenduka, a phenduka stand and seven metal balls that are thrown inside the phenduka to facilitate the separation process, were seized by the police.
“A case docket for possession of suspected gold-bearing material and gold processing equipment, with an additional charge of contravention of the Immigration Act, was opened at the Thabong Police Station,| said Lt Col Thabo Covane, provincial police spokesperson.
