The provincial commissioner of SAPS in Gauteng continue to lead from the forefront in dismantling and disrupting illegal mining activities
The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela continue to lead from the front as the law enforcement agencies relentlessly disrupt and dismantle illegal mining activities through Operation Shanela.
Operation Shanela is a weekly operation conducted simultaneously throughout the five districts in the province. Today, the PC led the team in West Rand District where several crime prevention activities such as roadblocks, stop and searches, liquor compliance inspections, and visits to illegal mining hot spot areas in Magaliesburg, Randfontein, Krugersdorp and Kagiso were conducted.
The operation resulted in the arrest of 139 suspects for possession of ammunition, impersonating a police official, contravention of Pharmaceutical Act, dealing in liquor with a license including 49 undocumented persons and 66 wanted suspects traced by the detectives.
The team further seized illegal mining equipment such as phendukas, gas bottles, buckets of gold bearing material, liquor and ammunition. Other districts and law enforcement agencies also conducted crime prevention activities within their policing precinct. The disruption of illegal mining activities will continue.
