Ten suspected illegal miners have been arrested in Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga during the police’s Operation Vala Umgodi.
Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo says all the suspects are illegal immigrants.
The group was found in possession of gold bearing material and tools used for illicit mining.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Graskop Magistrate’s Court soon.
Meanwhile, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has since called for illegal mining to be formally criminalised, following a spike in unlawful mining activities in the North West.
Cachalia said current legislation is insufficient to deal decisively with the problem and needs to be amended.
