By Kaya 959 Reporter
Eighty-five suspected illegal miners, also known as “zama zamas”, are expected to reappear in the Orkney Magistrate’s Court next month.
They face charges related to a shoot-out at a mine shaft in the North West that left six people dead last week.
All the accused were remanded in custody after their case was postponed to 8 November for confirmation of addresses and a Department of Home Affairs report. Two suspects are still in the hospital. The court postponed their case in absentia.
Police spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale says the suspects, aged between 25 and 49, were arrested following the shoot-out between the group and police.
Mogale says police received information about the men operating at the mine. He says a multi-disciplinary team descended on the shaft.
“They were met with the suspects’ gunfire. The team returned fire wherein eight suspects were wounded and six fatally whilst 87 were arrested,” says Mogale.
He says a police officer was killed in the shoot-out.
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Suspects face multiple charges
Emergency officials took the wounded suspects to the hospital.
The team seized two minibuses, illegal mining paraphernalia and gold-bearing material. Officials also retrieved three shotguns, three rifles, four pistols, a revolver and bags of food.
Police charged the suspects with attempted murder, illegal possession of gold, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, illegal possession of prohibited firearms, theft and conspiracy to commit an offense.
Four illegal miners were also arrested in the North West in August. They were allegedly mining chrome at a mine outside Rustenburg. The chrome is valued at nearly R1 million
The Hawks found five fully-laden trucks with the stolen chrome.
Police units also seized two excavators and three LDV vehicles supplying diesel to earth-moving equipment, the Witness reported.
The accused have since appeared in the Mogwase Magistrate’s Court.
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