A group of  zama zamas who were arrested in Stilfontein in North West were sentenced to a combined 696 years imprisonment by the regional court yesterday. The group, mostly foreign nationals were arrested in October 2021 following months of surveillance by the Hawks after illegal miners took control of a dormant mining shaft in Orkney.  

ARMED AND DANGEROUS  

During the operation by Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Investigation, Special Task Force and the District Illicit Mining Task Team a shoot-out ensued between the police and the zama zamas.  Six of the illegal miners were being fatally wounded and eight injured. The police recovered illegal mining paraphernalia, gold bearing material, two minibuses, eleven firearms (3x shotguns, 4 x pistols, 3 x rifles and 1 x revolver), about 4000 cartridges of ammunition and bags of food at the scene.  

PLEADING GUILTY 

North West police spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso said all accused who have been in custody since their arrest last year pleaded guilty to charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances on 28 March. "They were each sentenced to eight years direct imprisonment," Rikhotso said. Hawks head in the province, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director for Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari-Sekhaolelo applauded the work done by the multi-disciplinary team that worked on this case.