Twenty-four of those who resurfaced on Monday are expected to appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, with another 28 set to appear on Thursday after emerging from underground on Tuesday.
The suspects, many of whom are from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, and South Africa, face charges relating to illegal mining, contravening the Immigration Act, and in some cases, weapons possession.
This after one of the miners who resurfaced earlier this week was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The arrests are part of an ongoing operation by law enforcement and private security teams, including the SAPS National Roving Team, Task Force, K9 Unit, and Vukalanga Security, under Operation Vala Umgodi.
The operation has focused on flushing out hundreds of illegal miners who had taken refuge in abandoned and active gold mine shafts.
Police say six minors were among the nearly 500 suspects who surfaced on Friday, last week.
Officials from the Department of Social Development have been brought in to assist with their cases.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli confirmed more arrests are anticipated.
“Most, if not all, of the arrested miners are foreign nationals without valid documentation. Investigations are continuing, and we expect further charges to be added as more people resurface and more evidence is uncovered.”
Pan African Resources, the company that owns Sheba Mine, says it is cooperating closely with authorities.
Spokesperson Hethen Hira said food supplies to the illegal miners had been cut off to pressure them to come to the surface.
“Food routes and things going underground illegally, that is not sustainable, that is not safe for the illegal miners or for our operations.”
Hira warned that continued illegal mining threatens the long-term viability of the mine, which is the largest employer in the Barberton region with over 4,000 workers.
He said criminal activity underground could cause collapses, destabilise the ore body, and compromise the structural integrity of the mine.
“If this mine collapses and doesn’t sustain for the 20 to 30 year life of a mine. I shudder to think what happens to communities to the infrastructure to schools the clinics that we support, and other interventions that we have plans to do and the employment that we’re going to create.
“As these mines operate they get deeper, you know ,the life of mine just increases but if you’re going to mine from the top and e-cart pillars that were left to support the underground that is not going to work.”
The mining company and police both say the operations will continue until the area is fully cleared of all illegal activity.
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