Operation Vala Umgodi Yields Results in Gauteng

Pretoria: Gauteng police arrested five suspects, aged between 18 and 32 years, during an intelligence-driven operation, Operation Vala Umgodi, on Friday, 25 April 2025, in Cloverdene informal settlement, Crystal Park, for illegal mining, contraventions of the Mineral Act 28 of 2002, and illegal immigration. The items confiscated during the operation include steel balls and pendukas. The suspects will appear before the Magistrate court soon. According to South African Police Service, SAPS members recovered explosives in a separate incident in Jabula Street, Kingsway, Benoni. The recovered items include Super Power Blasting Cartridges, Detonating Cord, Zapcord Detonating Cord, and Carmex Connector Capped Fuses.