-Staff Writer / Sun, 21 Dec 2025
At least 21 suspects, including undocumented foreign nationals, have been arrested in a crackdown on illegal mining activities in the Bapong area in the North West, following operations by a newly established Crime Combatting Team.
The arrests were carried out between Thursday, 11 December 2025, and Saturday, 20 December 2025, in the Sarajevo section, Legalaopeng and Modderspruit villages within the Mooinooi policing precinct.
Police spokesperson Adéle Myburgh said the suspects were arrested mainly for contravening the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002, as well as Section 49(1)(a) of the Immigration Act of 2002.
“During the operations, several suspects were found in possession of chrome-bearing material and mining equipment, while others were arrested for being in the country illegally,” said Myburgh.
On Friday, 12 December 2025, police arrested 11 suspects and seized a Toyota LDV loaded with chrome-bearing material and additional mining equipment. The following day, Saturday, 13 December, one suspect was arrested and a truck with two trailers carrying chrome-bearing material was confiscated.
On Sunday, 14 December 2025, the team arrested five suspects for drinking in public, with two of them also charged for contravening the Immigration Act.
Further arrests were made on Thursday, 18 December 2025, when a 51-year-old suspect was apprehended for illegal mining. Police seized a Nissan one-ton truck, an excavator and various mining tools during that operation.
The most recent arrests took place on Saturday, 20 December 2025, when a 19-year-old suspect was arrested in Sarajevo while pushing a wheelbarrow containing chrome-bearing material. On the same day, a 52-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman were arrested, and their bakkie, which was also loaded with chrome-bearing material, was seized. Police confirmed that the pair are undocumented Zimbabwean nationals.
Meanwhile, Acting Provincial Police Commissioner in the North West, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, has commended officers for their dedication.
He thanked members for their hard work and ongoing efforts in combating illicit mining activities in the Bapong area, adding that police operations will continue.
News Junction (Gold Standard)
