Case of 21 Stilfontein illegal miners postponed
The case against the 21 illegal miners that were arrested on the possession of illegal firearms and ammunition has been postponed to 18 October by the Stilfontein Magistrate`s Court in North West.
Source: EWNThe suspects, aged
between 19 and 40 made their first appearance in the dock on Wednesday.
The accused were arrested by a team led by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation assisted by members of the Hawks' Tactical Management Section, Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, District Illegal Mining Task Team, Tactical Response Team, Bidvest Protea Coin, and Harmony Gold mine.
Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said another suspect was arrested on the same day in Stilfontein and seen in surveillance footage transporting goods in a vehicle on several occasions.
“The operation follows weeks of surveillance into the
alleged illegal mining activities of the suspects resulting in the arrest of 20
suspects and the seizure of 15 AK47s, six hunting rifles, two shotguns and one
R5, boxes full of ammunition, explosives and an undisclosed amount of money”,
he said.
All 21 suspects will remain in custody until the next court
appearance and face several charges.
By Lulama Klassen
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