A suspected illegal miner met a tragic and brutal end as he was stoned to death in an act of vigilante justice at the Maatadi village in Polokwane.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday night, has prompted a manhunt by the police to apprehend the suspects responsible for the merciless killing.
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Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said that officials were alerted to the scene around 8pm, where they discovered an unidentified man lying lifeless on the mountainside.
“The victim bore evident injuries throughout his body, consistent with a violent stoning attack. Tragically, medical emergency services personnel on-site confirmed his death,” he said.
Deceased’s identity unknown
Ledwaba confirmed that preliminary investigations into the incident have indicated that the deceased, whose identity remains unknown, was targeted and subjected to a brutal assault by unknown individuals. There is no apparent motive behind the killing as yet.
Expressing her condemnation of the act, the Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe, has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.
“The police force is determined to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice,” she said.
Ledwaba also confirmed that a murder case has been registered, and law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward and assist in identifying and apprehending the suspects.
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Meanwhile, in a separate incident occurring earlier this week, police arrested a 29-year-old suspected illegal miner in Ga-Manyaka, outside Burgersfort, with mining equipment worth over R800 000.
Multi-disciplinary operation
Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa explained that the suspect was arrested during a multidisciplinary disruptive operation conducted by Polokwane based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation in collaboration with DPCI Head office, Lebowakgomo Local Criminal Record Centre, Department of Home Affairs and Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and State Security Agency.
“The suspect was found whilst mining without a permit,” he said.
In the course of the operation, Mmuroa confirmed that authorities successfully confiscated various illegal mining equipment, which included generators, a tractor loader backhoe valued at R700 000, 86 wheelbarrows, and 11 jackhammers.
The combined value of the seized equipment exceeds R800 000.
