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The Hawks.
Felix Dlangamandla, Gallo Images
- The Hawks have shut down an alleged illegal gold processing operation on a farm in Mpumalanga.
- Twelve people were arrested, including two minors and one of their alleged employers.
- GRAMOld material was found during the raids.
The Hawks arrested 12 suspected illegal miners, including two minors aged 15 and 16, following the discovery of what is believed to be an illegal gold processing factory on a farm in Mpumalanga.
An intelligence-driven operation, conducted by members of the Hawks and other law enforcement agencies, led to a raid on Brown’s Farm in Barberton on Tuesday night.
READ | Three men killed in alleged collapse of an illegal mining shaft
This follows the information they received that a group of illegal miners were employed to process gold.
“Upon reaching the identified address, the sound of hammers could be heard coming from nearby bushes,” Hawks spokesman Capt.Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said in a statement.
The team pounced on the group and five illegal immigrants and five Mpumalanga residents were arrested, Sekgotodi said.
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Further information revealed that the detainees were allegedly employed by two people, one in Johannesburg and one in Mpumalanga.
The Hawks then pounced on someone believed to be Mpumalanga’s employer, who was allegedly hiding in a nearby house.
“Upon entering the house, they found a man on crutches who indicated that he was injured in an illegal mining accident.”
“After the search of the facilities, crushed and confiscated gold materials were found and the suspect was arrested for possession of the gold materials.”
The silver bakkie of the double cab Ford Ranger was also seized. It is suspected of having been used in the commission of crimes.
Sekgotodi added that during a search of another home, an unlicensed .22 hunting rifle, a telescope and live ammunition were found and confiscated. A 20-year-old was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
“The following exhibits were also found and confiscated: pendukas, hammers, generators, cell phones, material containing gold, chemicals, and gas cylinders containing mercury.”
The detainees are expected to appear before the Barberton Court of First Instance on December 28.
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