According to statement by the police Illegal miners were left without operating equipment as a number of Phendukas, electric motors, gas bottles, and other items, including gold bearing materials were seized by the police.

A well-coordinated destructive Operation: Vala Umgodi, which is comprised of various police disciplines, once again produced a successful result in Sabie this week.

This time around, the team focused on identified areas such as Nkanini, Simile’s informal settlement in Sabie, where the alleged gold bearing materials are said to be processed by illegal miners.

The men and women in Blue circled the area; however, the alleged suspects somehow fled the scene. It was during this period when the team realized that the illegal miners had left behind some equipment’s in their backyards.

Police are convinced that, by the confiscation of the items, illegal mine activities will somehow subside.The seized items were taken for further investigation. 

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has sent a stern warning against people who carry out illegal mining activities that, it is just a matter of time before they are arrested. Members were also commended for their hard work in destabilizing these activities.