Six foreign nationals arrested for illegal mining in Mpumalanga

Six suspects, all foreign nationals, have been arrested for illegal mining activities in Pilgrim’s Rest, Mashoboto and Ngodwana in Mpumalanga.

Provincial police spokesperson Thulisile Magagula says the suspects, four Mozambican nationals, one Zimbabwean national and one Ethiopian national, were arrested during police operations.

She says equipment used for illegal mining activities was also confiscated.

Magagula says the Ethiopian national is a shop owner, facing charges of possession of counterfeit cigarettes.

The other suspects are facing charges of possession of gold-bearing materials and contravention of the immigration law.

They are all expected to appear in court soon.

#sapsLIM [SIX SUSPECTS ARRESTED AND RAW GOLD, CASH AND ILLEGAL MINING EQUIPMENT RECOVERED DURING OPERATION IN PILGRIM’S REST AND NGODWANA]

On Monday, 26/10, at about 07:30, members of the Pilgrim’s Rest Illicit Mining Team conducted an operation at Mashobodo, Ngodwana Policing Precinct.

The operation resulted in the arrest of six suspects, including four (04) Mozambican nationals, one (01) Zimbabwean national and one (01) Ethiopian national.

Among those arrested, one (01) Ethiopian national, who is allegedly a spaza shop owner, was charged with possession of counterfeit cigarettes.

Two Mozambican nationals were charged with possession of gold-bearing material (GBM) and gold-bearing equipment (GBE), possession of raw gold, money laundering involving R18 600 in cash, as well as contravention of immigration laws.

Two Mozambican nationals and one Zimbabwean national were further charged with possession of GBM and GBE, as well as contravention of immigration laws.

During the operation, police confiscated two generators, four shovels, eight phendukas, six jackhammers, one phanga, one grinder, three hammers, three spanners, 13 steel balls, three 12.5 kg bags of GBM, six plastic basins, two plastic buckets, 22 head torches, one pick, two pairs of water boots, one gas cylinder, one scale, 15 cartons of Remington Gold cigarettes, raw gold and R18 600 in cash.

A total of six cases were opened, and all six suspects are expected to face the charges accordingly.

The suspects are expected to appear in court in due course.

#fightingcrime SG
https://t.co/8n4tEXuRsd

— SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) October 27, 2026