87 illegal miners were sentenced to a combined 696 years in jail.
In the North West region’s Stilfontein Regional Court, 87 illegal miners were given a total sentence of 696 years in jail.
The illegal miners, who are all from Lesotho, entered guilty pleas on Tuesday and were given their sentences on Thursday.
The operation also led to the confiscation of two minibuses, 11 weapons, around 4000 cartridges of ammunition, bags of food, and mining equipment used illegally.
The illegal miners were apprehended during a law enforcement operation that descended into violence, according to a joint statement from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
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“They were arrested during an intelligence driven operation led by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, assisted by the Special Task Force and the District Illicit Mining Task Team. The operation was a culmination of months of surveillance after the illegal miners took control of a dormant shaft.”
“During the operation, a shoot-out between the police and the illegal miners ensued, resulting in six illegal miners being fatally wounded and eight injured,”
“The Provincial Head for the [Hawks], Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director for Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari-Sekhaolelo lauded the exceptional work by the multi-disciplinary team that worked tirelessly on this case.”
“They further lauded Advocate Chris Kok from the [NPA] for the excellent work and dedication,” the statement read
BREAKING NEWS: A group of 87 illegal miners has been sentenced to combined 696 years in prison after their arrest in Orkney following a police shoot-out in October 2021. pic.twitter.com/al8uCur3tl
— Thulani Ndaba (@tndaba) March 31, 2023
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