The knock-out team, working together with private security, continues to dismantle the illicit mining in the Lejweleputswa District and turn the area safe from illicit mining while also working as a force multiplier for local stations in the area.

Operation Knock Out kicked off in 2018 and since then these members have consistently produced successes on a weekly basis. They focus on illegal mining activities, illicit mining, trio crimes and the investigation of these crimes.

The operation was implemented in a multi-stakeholder collaborative approach inclusive of all relevant departments.

For the past week, the following number of people were arrested for different crimes, including, eight for trespassing, 24 for the possession of gold-bearing material, eight for underground assembly, 102 arrested for contravention of the immigration act and two for fraud.

The success of the operation does not end with the arrests of the suspects but also with their successful prosecution. The investigating team has succe
ssfully reached sentencing on the following cases:

In March 2024, two males were sentenced for possession of gold-bearing material and were given 6 months’ imprisonment or a R4000-00 fine.

In the Allanridge August 2024 case, six accused were sentenced for illegal immigration to 6 months’ imprisonment or a R3000 fine before they were deported.

In Welkom, three males were found guilty of being illegal immigrants and sentenced to 2 months’ imprisonment or a R2000 fine.

In the Thabong September 2024 case, 2 suspects were found guilty of being illegal immigrants and sentenced to 60 days of imprisonment or a R2000 fine.

A man was arrested for being an illegal immigrant and sentenced to 2 months’ imprisonment or a R2000 fine for a case of August 2024.

The members work round the clock with their counterparts in the private security sector to continue to curb illicit mining.

Source: South African Police Service