Operation Vala Umgodi: Multi-Disciplinary Operation Detains 19 Zama Zamas
- Operation Vala Umgodi has arrested 19 Zama Zamas in the Northern Cape
- This multi-disciplinary operation, involving SANDF and Immigration Services, aims to apprehend illegal miners
- The ongoing efforts focus on tracing undocumented individuals involved in unlawful mining activities
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Reitumetse Makwea, a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Pretoria, South Africa, has covered court and crime-related news at The Citizen and Rekord Noweto for over five years.
Source: UGC
Operation Vala Umgodi has arrested 19 Zama Zamas in the Northen Cape.
A collaborative initiative involving the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Immigration Services has successfully detained 19 suspects since the operation commenced on Tuesday, 9 July 2024.
The ongoing multi-disciplinary operation aims to trace and apprehend illegal and undocumented individuals suspected of conducting unlawful mining activities in the Northern Cape.
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More Zama Zamas detained
In the Frances Baard District, the team patrolled the Greenpoint and Colville mining dumps.
They initially detained seven undocumented foreign nationals from Nigeria, Malawi, and Ethiopia, along with one South African citizen.
These individuals were apprehended for their involvement in illegal mining activities.
Meanwhile, in the Namakwa District, a coordinated cordon and search operation in the Koiingnas mining area detained 11 individuals from Zimbabwe and Lesotho.
These suspects were held for trespassing and contravening the Immigration Act.
The detained suspects are currently being processed and verified by immigration officials.
Upon completion, they will be formally charged and presented to the court for deportation proceedings.
Operation Vala Umgodi continues its collaborative patrol operations in hotspot areas within the Frances Baard and Namakwa Districts, reinforcing the commitment to curbing illegal mining and ensuring adherence to immigration laws.
Addressing illegal mining in the region
Operation Vala Umgodi is part of a broader effort to address illegal mining activities, which pose significant environmental, economic, and social challenges in the region.
The involvement of multiple agencies underscores the seriousness of this issue and the concerted effort required to combat it effectively.
Authorities have indicated that the operations will continue in various hotspot areas, ensuring all individuals within these regions comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
The SANDF and Home Affairs Immigration Services remain committed to upholding the law and safeguarding the integrity of South Africa’s borders.
Police continue to clamp down on Zama Zamas after one was found with uncut diamonds
Briefly News reported that the police have intensified efforts against Zama Zamas in a nationwide crackdown on illegal mining.
A 21-year-old Lesotho national was arrested on 18 June for allegedly possessing uncut diamonds during a vehicle checkpoint inspection in Kleinsee.
The suspect, who lacked proper documentation, remains in custody and is expected to appear in court soon.
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Source: Briefly News
