Government has assured the nation that the deaths of two South <a href="https://absafricatv.com/eu-trade-relations-with-west-africa/” title=”EU trade relations with West Africa”>African National Defence Force soldiers in Gauteng will not be in vain, pledging to escalate the fight against illegal mining.
The two soldiers lost their lives after falling down a vertical shaft at an abandoned mine in Florida, west of Johannesburg, during an operation to combat illegal mining on Friday.
Police reported that the troops had entered an underground tunnel while pursuing suspected illegal miners when the incident occurred, highlighting the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in such operations.
Senior government leaders, along with South African Police Service and SANDF management, have expressed their condolences to the families of the deceased, warning that illegal mining operations continue to pose extreme danger to law enforcement officers.
Gauteng Deputy Police Commissioner Fred Kekana visited the scene, assuring residents that efforts to target illegal mining in the area, known as Operation Prosper, will continue.
“We are going to remove them, not only once, until this place is in such a state that there is no illegal mining taking place here.”
He also confirmed the arrest of 20 suspected illegal miners during the operation, stating that they were arrested for illegal mining, and 19 of them were also arrested for being in the country illegally.
