Westenburg: An intelligence-driven operation by Vala Umgodi operational members led to the recovery of illegal mining equipment at the Westenburg station precinct.

According to South African Police Service, members of the Vala Umgodi Operations multi-disciplinary forces in Capricorn District conducted the operation based on intelligence received. This initiative took place at Bergenek Village within the Westenburg policing precinct during the early hours of Sunday, March 2, 2025.

Upon receiving the information, the operation was promptly activated at the identified location. When the police arrived at the illegal mining site in Bergenek, they discovered a group of suspects actively digging. However, the suspects managed to flee in various directions and vanished into the darkness upon noticing the police presence.

The police successfully recovered abandoned illegal mining equipment consisting of a metal detector machine, four shovels, six picks, a Nike backpack, a Q20 tin, a panga, a saw, three small torches, a detector battery, a Redmi Xiaomi cellphone, two Nokia cellphones, a Redmi power bank, a small scale, and a big torch. All recovered items were confiscated and taken to the Westenburg SAPS for processing.

Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Limpopo, expressed approval of the confiscation efforts. She encouraged the police force to continue their efforts against illegal mining activities throughout the province. Police investigations into the matter are ongoing, and the Vala Umgodi operations continue to make strides against illegal activities.