A group of suspected illegal miners escaped through the hole in the floor. (Supplied/Saps)
A 65-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly allowing a group of illegal miners to access a mine shaft from one of the bedrooms in his home.
The man was taken into custody in the early hours of Thursday in Nkandla informal settlement near Khuseleka Shaft 1 in Rustenburg.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani said the man, who lives in the house with his family, allegedly “allowed a group of men to utilise one of the bedrooms as an entrance to the nearby Khuseleka mine shaft”.
The room where a group of illegal miners accessed a mine shaft from. (Supplied/Saps)
Following a tip-off, police raided the home. During the operation, a group of suspected illegal miners escaped through the hole in the floor.
A second person, a 31-year-old, was also arrested during the raid.
Both men face charges of illegal mining, tampering with essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen goods when they appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
“With the assistance of the mine security team, some of the mine property and other equipment were found inside the house. A search for the other suspects is continuing,” Funani said.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
