BRITS POS – HARTBEESPOORT - The Operation Vala Umgodi team in North West, which means close the pit in isiZulu, arrested nine Zimbabwean foreign nationals at Schaumburg Informal Settlement outside Hartbeespoortdam on Monday, 15 April 2024.
“The team comprised of various South African Police Service Units and supported by the Department of Home Affairs, arrested the suspects after failing to prove their legal status in the country,” says Lt Col Amanda Funani, SAPS North West spokesperson.
“The team also discovered a black scale and a bag containing gold bearing material.”
Consequently, four of the nine suspects appeared before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 17 April 2024, for contravention of illegal Immigration Act, 2002 (No. 13 of 2002). The matter was postponed till Tuesday,7 and Thursday, 9 May 2024, for formal bail application. The other five suspects appeared before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 18 April 2024. Their case was remanded in custody till Thursday, 25 April 2024 and 7 May 2024 for formal bail application.
