Nearly 1,000 undocumented migrants were arrested in a police operation called Operation Vala Umgodi at the Sheba Gold Mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga province. They were charged with immigration violations and illegal mining. The operation lasted nearly a week, and some arrested individuals were likely underage. The mine's owner, Barberton Mines, expressed support for the arrests and condemned illegal mining. South Africa struggles with illegal mining, with many abandoned mines acting as hotspots for this activity due to the decline of the formal mining sector.
Nearly 1,000 undocumented migrants working illegally at the Sheba Gold Mine in South Africa were arrested as part of Operation Vala Umgodi targeting illegal mining and immigration violations.
Barberton Mines stated that it welcomes the arrests, emphasizing that illegal mining will not be tolerated, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat the issue.
Sheba Gold Mine, founded in the 1880s, is one of South Africa's oldest and richest mines, but now faces high operational costs and substantial gold theft problems.
The rise in illegal mining is linked to the decline of the formal mining sector, with South Africa housing around 6,000 abandoned mines which have become illegal hotspots.
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