Illegal miners latest: Police arrest six ‘Zama Zamas’, recover explosives

Police arrested six illegal miners, known as ’Zama Zama’s’ and recovered explosives, in Bothaville in the Freestate at the weekend.

SAPS regional spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo said that the police were busy with routine stop and search operations on the R30 road in Bothaville when they stopped the alleged illegal miners in a white Toyota Corolla sedan with a North West province registration plate.

“The vehicle with six occupants was searched and various explosive devices as well as pairs of boots, harmers and mercury were found,” Mbambo said.

Mbambo said a total of six suspects, aged between 27 and 44, were arrested. Mbambo said that the suspects were originally from Khuma in Stilfontei in the North West Province.

The suspects are expected to appear in Bothaville Magistrate court on Monday 26 July 2021 to face charges of being in possession of explosives.

In a separate incident police arrested a 29 year old suspect for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm in Navalsig on Saturday. 

SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Motantshi Makhele said:

“On Saturday 24 July 2021 at about 23:20, two police members were busy patrolling around Navalsig area when they  stopped a suspicious vehicle at a filling station on the N8 towards Botshabelo. Upon searching the vehicle one of the passengers was  found with an unlicensed firearm, a 7.65 Lorcin pistol with no ammunition,” Makhele said.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ court to face a charge of being in possession of an unlicensed firearm on Monday 26 July 2021.