{"id":57435,"date":"2026-04-28T10:24:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T10:24:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=57435"},"modified":"2026-04-28T10:24:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T10:24:49","slug":"18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-mpumalanga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2026\/04\/28\/18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-mpumalanga\/","title":{"rendered":"18 undocumented foreign nationals arrested for illegal mining in Mpumalanga"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Eighteen suspects, who also happen to be undocumented foreign nationals, were arrested for illegal mining following a series of operations in Mpumalanga by the South African Police Service (Saps).<\/p>\n<p>Various gold-bearing mining equipment was also seized during the operations last week. <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-undocumented-foreign-nationals\"><strong>Undocumented foreign nationals<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Five undocumented foreign nationals aged between 21 and 41 were arrested during an operation conducted at Lows Creek on Monday 21 April 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The suspects were found in possession of gold-bearing material (GBM) and gold-bearing equipment (GBE). According to the police, equipment including GBM and GBE were seized during the operation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" alt=\"Mpumalanga, illegal mining, Saps, seized items\" class=\"wp-image-4445298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gold-bearing-equipment-1-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gold-bearing-equipment-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gold-bearing-equipment-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg?resize=640%2C480&#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg?resize=640%2C480&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Mpumalanga, illegal mining, Saps, seized items\" class=\"wp-image-4445298\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gold-bearing-equipment-1-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gold-bearing-equipment-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gold-bearing-equipment-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sup><em>The gold-bearing and illegal mining equipment seized by police. Picture: Supplied\/Saps<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-seized-items\">Seized items<\/h3>\n<p>Police also confiscated equipment believed to be used in illegal mining activities including: pendukas (a hand driven cylinder also known as a homemade machine used in illegal mining), motors, jackhammers, gas cylinders and other related items.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"551\" alt=\"Saps, illegal mining, gold-bearing equipment, undocumented foreign nationals\" class=\"wp-image-4445315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777371885_748_18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pendukas-SANDF-1200x1033.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pendukas-SANDF-768x661.jpg 768w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777371885_748_18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg?resize=640%2C551&#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777371885_748_18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg?resize=640%2C551&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Saps, illegal mining, gold-bearing equipment, undocumented foreign nationals\" class=\"wp-image-4445315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777371885_748_18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pendukas-SANDF-1200x1033.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pendukas-SANDF-768x661.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>Pendukas are homemade machines which are used in processing the sifted illegally mined minerals (2024). Picture: SANDF<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" alt=\"These motors were confiscated from the crime scene by authorities: Picture: Supplied\/Saps\" class=\"wp-image-4445331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777371885_318_18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/illegal-mining-equipment-foreign-nationals-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/illegal-mining-equipment-foreign-nationals-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/illegal-mining-equipment-foreign-nationals-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777371885_318_18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg?resize=640%2C480&#038;ssl=1\"\/><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777371885_318_18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg?resize=640%2C480&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"These motors were confiscated from the crime scene by authorities: Picture: Supplied\/Saps\" class=\"wp-image-4445331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777371885_318_18-undocumented-foreign-nationals-arrested-for-illegal-mining-in-Mpumalanga.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/illegal-mining-equipment-foreign-nationals-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/illegal-mining-equipment-foreign-nationals-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.citizen.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/illegal-mining-equipment-foreign-nationals-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>These motors were confiscated from the crime scene by authorities: Picture: Supplied\/Saps<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This operation continued in the Siqobile Township, where additional undocumented foreign nationals were arrested for the possession of explosives.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-follow-up-operation\">Follow-up operation<\/h3>\n<p>A follow-up operation was conducted in Pilgrim\u2019s Rest on Thursday, 23 April 2026, which led to the arrest of another eight undocumented foreign nationals, aged between 20 and 57.<\/p>\n<p>The 18 apprehended suspects face charges related to the possession of gold-bearing material and gold-bearing equipment.<\/p>\n<p>Further operations between 24 and 26 April 2026 in the Pilgrim\u2019s Rest and Sabie areas resulted in the arrest of five more undocumented foreign nationals, aged between 18 and 39.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-court-appearances\"><strong>Court appearances<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>These suspects also face charges of possession of gold-bearing material, gold-bearing equipment, including several items believed to be used in illicit mining, such as mercury.<\/p>\n<p>According to reports, the detectives are working with officials from the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain the status of the arrested suspects.<\/p>\n<p>All 18 suspects are expected to appear before the Sabie Magistrate\u2019s Court, Pilgrim\u2019s Rest Magistrate\u2019s Court and the Barberton Magistrate\u2019s Court soon.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p>Add The Citizen as a Preferred Source on Google and follow us on Google News to see more of our trusted reporting in Google News and Top Stories.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#undocumented #foreign #nationals #arrested #illegal #mining #Mpumalanga<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eighteen suspects, who also happen to be undocumented foreign nationals, were arrested for illegal mining following a series of operations&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57435"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":57437,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57435\/revisions\/57437"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}