By Kopano Dibakwane
The arrest of 68 men aged between 19 and 54 in Sabie, outside of Mbombela, was praised by Mpumalanga MEC for community safety, security and liaison(DCSSL)-Vusi Shongwe.
According to DCSSL spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, the suspects were nabbed as part of Operation Shanela blitz over the weekend, after they were linked to illegal mining activities in and around the area.
Two of the men are said to be linked to human trafficking, while two other suspects in the same group are facing a charge for illegal possession of firearms.
The MEC acknowledged the collaborative work by members of SAPS(South African Police Service), the department of home affairs, department of minerals and energy and two local security companies.
” We applaud the police under the sterling leadership of provincial commissioner, lieutenant-general Semakaleng Manamela, for their relentlessness in eradicating crime in our province. With their determination, our communities will become safer, and they should not be dispirited by high levels of crime,” said the MEC Shongwe.
He added that unemployment amongst young people should not be used as a scapegoat to perpetuate unregulated and dangerous Illegal mining activities. Shongwe mentioned government does not have a problem with foreign nationals, but they should comply with all the laws of the country.
” We are concerned with some foreign nationals who enter the country illegally and go on to be involved in criminal activities such as illegal mining and human trafficking.Our police should continue to work tirelessly to reign on criminals, whether they are locals or not, in order to protect the country and its citizens,” said Shongwe.
It was reported that the confiscated firearms will be sent for ballistic testing to determine whether they were not used previously in the commission of other crimes. The suspects will appear at the Sabie magistrate’s court.
