By Thys Khiba – North West, Stilfontein Regional Court has sentenced 87 illegal miners to a combined six hundred and ninety six (696) years imprisonment on Thursday, 30 March.
This comes after they were arrested during a multidisciplinary operation at Shaft 2 in Orkney on 20 October 2021.
The operation was a culmination of months of surveillance after the illegal miners took control of a dormant shaft.
All accused who have been in custody since their arrest, pleaded guilty to charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances on 28 March 2023 and they were resultantly each sentenced to eight years direct imprisonment.
“They were arrested during an intelligence driven operation led by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, assisted by the Special Task Force and the District Illicit Mining Task Team,” said North West NPA spokesperson Henry Mamothame.
NPA
At least six illegal miners were fatally wounded and eight injured during the operation, due to a shoot-out between the police and the illegal miners ensued.
Mamothame confirmed illegal mining paraphernalia, gold bearing material, two mini buses, eleven firearms (3x shotguns, 4 x pistols, 3 x rifles and 1 x revolver), about 4000 cartridges of ammunition and bags of food were seized.
Adv. Chris Kok from the National Prosecuting Authority was credited for the excellent work that he has done.
CENTRAL NEWS
—————————————————————
DO YOU HAVE A NEWS STORY OR AN OPINION FOR CENTRAL NEWS: E-mail us : newsroom@centralnews.co.za or Whatsapp us on 0814955487