
On 26 December 2024, a cleverly executed operation led to the arrest of 19 suspects, aged 22 to 39, at the Barberton old mine.
The suspects were found with three firearms, explosives, and other incriminating evidence. What’s more alarming is that one of the suspects, a 39-year-old, was found with a stolen rifle and is currently out on parole for a murder conviction.
The operation, which is part of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) efforts to combat illegal mining, has been making waves across the country. In October 2024, Operation Vala Umgodi led to the arrest of 275 suspects nationwide, with 47 of them being arrested for illegal mining-related offenses.