Two illegal immigrants appear in court for illegal mining in Walkers Fruit Farms

Two illegal immigrants, Uzif Sheti (23), a Malawian national and Monga Ndlovu (23), a Zimbabwean national appeared at the Vereeniging Magistrates’ Court today facing charges of possession of unwrought metal and being illegal in the country.

It is alleged that on Sunday, 21 May, Police were responding to a complaint that a man was lying in the road at Walkers Fruit Farms.

“When they got to the scene, he directed them to where he lived at a plot in the area. Upon arrival, they found several buildings on the premises and heard noise of machinery coming from one of the buildings. When they entered the premises, they found the two accused with heaps of sand suspected to be gold and three “Penduka” machines used to process gold. The two were then arrested and have been in custody since, and the matter was postponed to 30 May 2023, to secure the services of a foreign Interpreter,” said NPA Regional Spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana.