Illegal miner nabbed at Dwaalboom’s Old Gold Mine

Thabazimbi/ Dwaalboom – The police’s Vala Umgodi task team swooped down on the Dwaalboom–Batavia Old Gold Mine in the early hours of Thursday, 14 August 2025, arresting a 33-year-old man caught red-handed.

According to lieutenant colonel Masekela Magoro, the suspect was found actively mining at the abandoned site around 06:30. He was arrested on charges of illegal mining and for being in the country illegally. Police seized mining equipment, including a generator, hammer, electrical cord, and chisel.

Photo: An abandoned mine stope entered by illegal miners, where one suspect was arrested during a police raid at the Dwaalboom–Batavia Old Gold Mine.