About 16 Sabie zama zamas rescued, then arrested

He added that from December last year to date, more than 427 high-calibre firearms and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition have been seized from illegal mining operations. He said more than 15,000 people have since been arrested. 

Meanwhile, Mpumalanga premier Mandla Ndlovu, who was speaking at the rescue site, said illegal mining is a disaster that needs to be curbed to restore livelihoods of community and deal with criminality. He said communities in areas where illegal mining took place were often subjected to deadly turf wars by warring gangs. 

He also criticised activists who are calling for the government to legalise illegal mining.  “They must know that government cannot legalise something illegal.” said Ndlovu.

He said the police are now going to pay special attention to the handlers of these illegal miners.

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