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By Staff Reporter 
5h ago
Pretoria – Police arrested 36 illegal miners in Stilfontein on Sunday morning, the Hawks said in a statement. This comes after the authorities responded to an apparent turf war between armed factions.
The District’s illicit mining task force and local police were the first to appear on the scene, near the Stilfontein shaft, where a fight had broken out between more than 100 illegal miners. The warring rivals are believed to be Lesotho citizens fighting to prevail over one another over illegal mining territory.
The Hawks’ organized felony investigation team was summoned to the scene. Collaborative efforts between authorities resulted in the arrest of at least 36 suspects between the ages of 20 and 42 after splitting into small groups upon discovering the presence of law enforcement.
One suspect was shot and injured in the upper body after he reportedly ignored calls for him to drop the weapon.
Three loaded AK47 assault rifles, a .303 rifle, a pistol, magazines and various ammunition were seized, the Hawks said.
The group is expected to appear in Stilfontein Magistrates Court on Tuesday to face various charges, including conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition.
His immigration status is also the subject of an ongoing investigation, the Hawks said.
MESS
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