77 illegal foreigners have been arrested in Orkney, South Africa for illegal mining.
Of the 77 arrested 60 are from Lesotho, 13 from Mozambique and four are Zimbabwean nationals.
During the operation which was conducted at Shaft no. 5, in Orkney, four decomposed bodies were brought up by the illegal miners.
The deceased are yet to be identified.
The arrested illegal miners are expected to appear before the Orkney Magistrates’ Court, facing charges of trespassing, illegal mining and contravention.
Below is the full statement
77 ILLEGAL MINERS WHO ARE FOREIGNERS WERE RESCUED AND ARRESTED IN ORKNEY, NORTH WEST
As part of clamping down on illegal mining, a multi-disciplinary team comprising of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Illicit Mining Team, Orkney Visible Policing and Detectives as well as Mining Rescue Team rescued from underground and ultimately apprehended 77 illegal miners between Thursday, 14 April and Monday, 18 April 2022. The operation follows a request to the mine management by illegal miners to be assisted to get out of the mine shaft as they were starving.
During the operation which was conducted at Shaft no. 5, in Orkney, four decomposed bodies were brought up by the illegal miners on Friday, 15 April 2022. Meanwhile, formal identification process of the four bodies is underway. The arrested illegal miners are expected to appear before the Orkney Magistrates’ Court today, facing charges of trespassing, illegal mining and contravention of Section 49(1)(a) of the Immigration Act, 2002 (Act No. 13 of 2002).
