The illegal mining crisis in Barberton came under the spotlight again on Monday (August 4), when 28 more suspects were arrested after emerging from the depths of Sheba Mine. This brings the total number of illegal miners who have surfaced from the area to 546.
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, mine security and law enforcement continue to monitor the situation, but the full extent remains unclear.
“The 28 suspects were arrested at the mine in Barberton, where 518 alleged illegal miners were taken into custody on Friday, bringing the total to 546. A firearm and ammunition were also recovered from one of the suspects, who will be charged accordingly,” he said.
Mdhluli added that it remains difficult to determine how many people might still be underground.
“We’ll keep monitoring. As we’re not there physically, I can’t confirm whether anyone remains underground. The lack of definitive information highlights the undercover nature of these operations and the challenges authorities face in tackling them,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Barberton Magistrate’s Court has granted bail of R2 000 each to 26 of the accused. The decision was based on several factors, including that they have no prior convictions, fixed addresses and no pending cases. They were strongly warned against reoffending while on bail.
The state has indicated it will oppose bail for the remaining accused who have previous convictions or pending cases. These individuals have been remanded in custody. The matter has been postponed to August 11 and 12 to allow for address verification and possible further bail applications.
