The South African Police Service (SAPS) Vala Umgodi team in Limpopo has made a significant breakthrough in combating illegal mining following a targeted operation in the Mavalani village area. Acting on intelligence reports, police swiftly moved to disrupt unlawful mining activities along the Mavalani River (Nsami) on Wednesday, 10 June 2025.
At approximately 16:00, officers conducted a tactical operation, leading to the arrest of a 39-year-old female suspect of Zimbabwean nationality. The suspect, currently detained at Giyani SAPS, faces charges related to the illegal processing of suspected precious metals, as well as contravention of the Immigration Act for being unlawfully present in South Africa.
Authorities also seized multiple tools believed to be used in illegal mining, including four shovels, three spades, and two buckets. In a separate but related operation on the same day, police intercepted a large quantity of chromite ore at Spitskop, Portion 6. The confiscated materials included approximately 98,000 tons of chromite ore, along with two wheelbarrows, a pickaxe, and a spade—marking a major disruption to illicit mining operations in the region.
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