North West police searching for illegal mining kingpin who escaped custody
The police's Athlenda Mathe says James Neo Tshoaeli is allegedly responsible for the deaths of illegal miners underground.
Picture: @SAPoliceService/X
JOHANNESBURG - North West police are searching for an alleged illegal mining kingpin who escaped from custody.
It's understood officers allegedly let James Neo Tshoaeli go during a government-led operation in Stilfotein last week to clamp down on illegal mining.
It emerged that the man known as "Tiger" was never booked into various police stations where other zama zamas are being kept, and he was also not admitted to hospital for medical care.
Last week, rescue operators retrieved 78 bodies of suspected illegal miners and brought back to the surface more than 100 others from a disused mine in the North West.
The police's Athlenda Mathe says Tshoaeli is allegedly responsible for the deaths of illegal miners underground.
"He is allegedly responsible for some deaths, assault and torture that is alleged to have taken place according to videos in police possession. He is also alleged to have hoarded and kept food away from other illegal miners," said adding Tshoaeli's conduct is "an embarrassment to the Vala Umgodi Operation".