HARTBEESPOORT – A joint law enforcement crackdown on illicit mining operations in the Bojanala Sub-District has resulted in the arrest of 41 suspects and the seizure of an unlicensed firearm.

The multi-agency deployment, dubbed Operation Prosper, was executed between 05:00 and 13:00 on Tuesday, 19 May, targeting known illegal mining hotspots in the Skeerpoort and Schumburg zones within the Hartbeespoort policing precinct.

• 41 Total Arrests: Police apprehended 26 individuals directly linked to illicit mining crimes, while 15 others face charges for violating the Immigration Act.
• Firearm Recovery: Officers confiscated a 9mm pistol along with live ammunition during the sweeps.
• Equipment Seizure: Teams dismantled local operations by seizing a cache of tools and machinery utilized in illegal mining activities.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) worked alongside the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to secure the area. Acting Provincial Commissioner of the North West, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, highly commended the collaborative efforts of the units involved, noting that the operation significantly disrupts criminal networks in the district.