JOHANNESBURG – Fifty-five illegal miners will make their first court appearance in the North West after they were arrested during a police operation. Over 500 illegal miners were handcuffed at the Margaret shaft in Stilfontein.
They resurfaced from the gold mine over the weekend following a three-day operation.
The police operation has been running since the middle of October and yielded major arrests over the weekend.
Initially, 55 illegal miners made their way up a shaft on Thursday and Friday before being arrested and that is the group that will appear in court on Monday.
Police said more miners resurfaced from underground throughout the weekend in need of food and water.
The police’s Sabata Mokgwabone said the group is facing several charges.
“Some are facing possession of gold bearing material, others are facing contravention of the Immigration Act and illegal mining.”Â
Mokgwabone said the hundreds of miners arrested over the weekend are being processed and will have their day in court soon.
Kgomotso Modise
www.ewn.co.za
