AUTHORITIES are determined to fight illegal mining from the root to the top.
Zama zamas are headhunted by the police, while the assets forfeiture unit (AFU) is after the money the wealthy illegal mining kingpins have accumulated through these illegal activities.
On Friday, 9 February about 39 zama zamas were bust in Benoni, Ekurhuleni, during Operation Vala Mgodi.
The charges faced by the illegal miners range from illegal mining to being undocumented, illegal immigrants and for illegal possession of explosives.
Police also confiscated six Innopak blasting cartridges, three connector caps, 44 phendukas, 11 stampers, three shovels, 24 crush pots, a water pump, six oxygen bottles, five phenduka stands, picks, two generators and booze.
Ekurhuleni District Commissioner, Major General Anna Sithole, said cops remain steadfast in stabilising levels of illegal mining in the district.
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The joint operation was conducted by the SAPS, Ekurhuleni Metro cops, soldiers and other law enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, seven illegal mining kingpins who were allegedly buying gold from these illegal miners are set to lose their properties.
The seven kingpins are from Khutsong and Carletonville in Merafong, Gauteng.
The AFU of the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed it had secured a preservation order over more than R3 million worth of property, belonging to illegal mining kingpins in Khutsong and Carletonville.
