POLICE seized mining equipment worth R60 million and coal worth R2 million from an illegal coal mine on Tuesday, 19 September.
This after the South African Illegal Mining Task Force established an operation to prevent and combat illegal mining in the country's hotspots.
They seized mining equipment worth R60 million from an illegal coal mine in Caroline, Mpumalanga.
According to Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, excavators, bulldozers, and dump trucks were confiscated by police during an intelligence operation on Tuesday.
“Coal worth R12 million was also seized and found to have been mined illegally. The task force searched the illegal mine and arrested the 53-year-old mine director, who had not presented the mining permit.
"Through engagement with relevant authorities, it was discovered that the mine had no license and was operating illegally,” Mathe said.
She said 748 coal-fired power plants across the country were visited in the 12 months to ensure compliance.
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Mathe said 63 unregulated coal mines were closed because the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment did not grant them legal operating permission.
She also said that after the operations, more than 335 illegal miners were arrested in various hotspots since 8 May.
Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili said the illegal mining task force continues to make commendable progress.
He thanked the SANDF, water directorate, energy and environments for playing a role in the success of this operation.
“Since the founding of the Natjoint Priority Committee on Energy Security and Energy Conservation, we have intensified our efforts to prevent and combat incidents of illegal mining and are working closely with all stakeholders to close and remediate abandoned mine shafts," Mosikili said.
