…as SAPS arrests 762 illegal Basotho miners
…confiscates uncut diamonds valued at M32 million
Staff Reporter
AN ALLEGED illegal mining kingpin, Rethabile “Dikgang” Molefenyane (36), was shot dead by the South African Police Service (SAPS) while resisting arrest in Soweto.
Molefenyane, identified as a Mosotho, was shot during the Operation Vala Umgodi (shut the hole) by the South African National Intervention Unit (NIU) which is clamping down on illegal miners across South Africa.
This operation, comprising of the SAPS, the army, the Department of Minerals and Energy (DMRE) and other security agencies from the neighbouring country was established in December last year to combat illegal mining. It operates in seven provinces which are regarded as illegal mining hotspots. They include Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
To date, 762 Basotho (Makhomosha) are part of the 4774 illegal miners arrested through the operation. There are also 1161 Zimbabweans, 743 Mozambicans, 252 Malawians, 240 Ethiopians, 56 Nigerians, 28 Bangladeshis, 28 Pakistanis and 1393 South Africans arrested.
“Operation Vala Umgodi is the government’s response to prevent, combat and put a stop to illegal mining activities,” the SAPS said in a statement this week.
“In the latest success, the team in Gauteng led by the National Intervention Unit (NIU), traced a wanted illicit mining kingpin to Jabulani in Soweto over the weekend. During the tracing operation, this Lesotho national was shot and killed by police after pointing a firearm at police and resisting arrest at his hideout in Soweto.
“The deceased suspect has been linked to at least 29 illegal mining related murders in Florida and Nomzamo in Soweto where 16 people were killed at a local tavern (in 2022).”
Contacted for clarity, the SAPS’s Brigadier Mathe revealed that the deceased had been identified as Rethabile “Dikgang” Molefenyane born 30 October 1987.
The Lesotho Times investigation further revealed that Molefenyane was from Ha Mokhalinyane in the outskirts of Maseru and a prominent member of the Terene ea Khosi Mokata Famo group.
The SAPS further stated that, through the operation, they had confiscated several equipment, weapons and money from illegal miners.
“Last week, the multidisciplinary teams in various provinces also registered notable successes which include a tracing operation in which 62 suspects in Limpopo and nine suspects in the Northern Cape were arrested for their role in illegal mining activities.
“In April, the same team seized R1 million in cash and a number of illicit mining equipment such as explosive devices and digging equipment from a house used by illegal miners in Carletonville. In the same month in the Northern Cape, seven unlicensed firearms were found hidden in a shoebox at an identified address in Postmasburg.
“Amongst some of the seized items during operations include 146 firearms, 4 518 rounds of ammunition, 78 vehicles, 79 trucks and 33 TLBs.
“A total of 7130 uncut diamonds worth R32 million have also been seized. To date, R4 million in cash has been seized by the teams in all these provinces.
“To date, Vala Umgodi teams have arrested more than 4774 suspects for a number of crimes including illicit mining activities. A breakdown of the arrests per province is as follows: Free State 1092, Limpopo 1230, Gauteng 679, North West 649, Northern Cape 619, Mpumalanga 432 and KwaZulu-Natal 74,” said the SAPS.
