Police arrested 21 suspects for contravention of the illicit mining and immigration during operation Vala Umgodi in the Frances Baard and Namakwa districts between the 26th June 2024 and the 28th of June 2024. Police spokesperson sergeant Timothy Sam says the teams comprising of police, the SANDF and the department of home affairs immigration services executed the operations in Colville, Kimberley, Frances Baard district, Koingnaas, Bontekoi and Belbank mining areas in the Namakwa district. Sam says the 21 suspects are Zimbabwean, Lesotho, Mozambican and South African nationals. He says others were detained as undocumented immigrants. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.

Journalist: Tsosangkgotla Mararang
Email: tsosan@radioriverside.co.za