A multi-disciplinary operation conducted in the Namakwa district dealt illegal diamond miners a hard blow following a crime intelligence driven operation that was executed over two days which commenced on 06 July 2021 and ended 07 July 2021.
The operation focused on illegal mining activities in the areas of Port Nolloth and Kleinsee. Police actions were conducted at the Oubeeb/Tweepad mine and Nuttabooi mine as well as raids at Bontekoe hostel.
On 05 July 2021, the commanders of the multi-disciplinary task teams were addressed by the Acting Provincial Commissioner, Maj Gen Joey Kers after an intelligence briefing and on 06 July 2021 the collective team under command of the Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing, Brig Hennie van Rensburg, inclusive of Crime Intelligence, DPCI, Provincial Corporate Communication, POCC, ORS, Provincial Vispol, Springbok K9, Upington and Kuruman Highway patrol, Springbok and Upington POPS and the Department of Home Affairs executed disruptive actions in the Oubeep and Nuttabooi mining areas.
During these actions 37 suspects of which 35 were males and 2 females were apprehended and arrested in the mining areas of Oubeep and Nuttabooi. They were charged for illegal mining. Five vehicles were also impounded as it was utilised in the commission of a crime.
28 Suspects were warned to appear before the Port Nolloth Periodic Court on 03 August 2021. Nine undocumented persons, 8 males and 1 female appeared before the Springbok Magistrates’ Court and the case postponed until 12 July 2021 for formal bail application.
On 07 July 2021, the collective team executed raids at the Bontekoe hostel during which 5 undocumented males were arrested and detained in Springbok.
Numerous digging equipment and implements, including generators, shovels, hammers, jigs and power tools as well as numerous bags of diamond bearing gravel were seized.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Maj Gen Joey Kers commended the multi-disciplinary task team which executed the disruptive actions stating that these actions sent a clear message to illegal miners that their disregard for the law will not be tolerated and continuous actions will prevail.
Source: South African Police Service