Eighty-Seven Suspected Illegal Miners Appeared In Court
The Stilfontein Regional Court postponed the case against eighty-seven(87) suspects who are facing charges related to illegal mining at shaft 2 in Orkney to 06 April 2022, for further investigations. The defence attorney has requested a postponement to negotiate with the state, on undisclosed aspects of the case.
The state has also drawn new charges against the accused, who are all in police custody after they abandoned bail owing to their illegal status in South Africa. They are now charged with six(6) counts of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, conspiracy to commit robbery, illegal mining, possession of automatic firearms, attempted murder and contravening the immigration act.
Police reports indicate that eight (8) of the accused were wounded and six (6) fatally wounded during a shootout with members of the Special Task Force, assisted by Hawks Organised Crime in the North West, during an intelligence-driven operation on Wednesday 20 October 2021. The eight (8) injured have since been discharged from the hospital and are now in police custody. Following the shootout, Police discovered, two mini-busses, illegal mining paraphernalia, gold-bearing material, eleven Illegal firearms (3 x shotguns, 3 x rifles, 4 x pistols and 1 x revolver) and bags of food.
The suspects will remain in police custody until the matter is finalised.
Ends.
Enquiries:
Henry Mamothame
NPA Spokesperson
North West Division
082 317 5731