Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) K9 Unit from Soshanguve have arrested four suspects following the discovery of an illegal gold refining operation on a plot in Bultfontein.
According to police reports, officers acted on information received from an informant on Thursday, 26 February 2026. The intelligence led them to the property, where they found four undocumented individuals in the process of refining sand believed to contain gold.
Upon searching the premises, law enforcement officials seized a significant amount of equipment used in the illicit operation. The recovered items included four refinery machines, a large black gas tank, a medium grey gas tank, a lighting torch, countless bags of sand, and a motor used to spin the refinery machines.
The four suspects face multiple charges, including the illegal possession of gold-bearing material, the illegal refining of gold, the possession of equipment used to refine gold, and contravention of the Immigration Act.
Illegal gold refining involves the unlawful processing of gold-bearing material to extract and purify gold without the necessary permits. Such operations frequently employ dangerous methods that are harmful to both the environment and human health.
District Commissioner Major General Samuel Thine has commended the members involved for their dedication, vigilance, and excellent teamwork, which he stated led to the successful arrest and seizure. He encouraged all members to continue executing their duties with the same level of commitment and professionalism.
The matter remains under investigation, and the suspects are expected to appear before the Magistrate’s court soon. Law enforcement authorities have stated they will continue to intensify operations aimed at combating illegal mining and related criminal activities in the area.