Suspected illicit mining ringleader killed in shootout with police
Police tracked down suspected illicit mining kingpin during a joint operation at the weekend.
Picture: Pixabay.com
JOHANNESBURG - A suspected illicit mining kingpin linked to the 2022 Nomzamo tavern shooting that left 16 people dead, has been killed in a shootout with police.
Gauteng police say they tracked the man down to Jabulani - in Soweto - during a joint operation at the weekend.
Spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the shootout happened when he pointed a gun at officers.
“The deceased suspect who is a Lesotho national has been linked to at least twenty-nine illegal mining related murders in Florida and Nomzamo in Soweto where sixteen people were killed at a local tavern.”
Mathe says the operation - which is aimed at clamping down on illicit mining - has chalked up several successes recently.
“Just last week, the team also also registered notable successes in Limpopo where 62 illegal miners were arrested. Nine others were arrested in the Northern Cape. In the previous week, they seized R1 million in cash from Carletonville as well as explosive devices and digging equipment.”