KEY POINTS
- North West police have dismissed reports of illegal mining kingpin James “Tiger” Tsoaeli’s death, confirming that the manhunt for the fugitive is ongoing.
- Four police officers accused of aiding Tsoaeli’s escape appeared in court, while rehabilitation of the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine shaft and identification of 93 zama zama bodies continue.
- Authorities have intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, with Operation Vala Umgodi leading to arrests across multiple provinces and highlighting the economic toll of the illicit activity.
North West police have dismissed claims that James “Tiger” Tsoaeli, a notorious illegal mining kingpin, is dead.
Tsoaeli, a Lesotho national, escaped custody in Stilfontein on January 15 after resurfacing from a shaft at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine during a government-sanctioned rescue mission for illegal miners, known as zama zamas.
Tsoaeli remains at large
Despite a widespread manhunt, Tsoaeli remains at large, and authorities are confident of his imminent arrest, TheCitizen reports.
Acting North West police commissioner Patrick Asaneng provided an update during a media briefing on the province’s crime statistics, stating that the investigation into Tsoaeli’s escape is at an advanced stage.
“We are happy with the investigation and we believe that we will unravel what has happened,” Asaneng said. He dismissed unsubstantiated claims of Tsoaeli’s death, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based investigations. “In our investigations, we don’t chase after ghosts,” he added.
In a related development, four police officers appeared in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, facing charges of defeating the ends of justice and aiding Tsoaeli’s escape. The officers—Warrant Officer Jack Motlhabya, Warrant Officer Menzi Shabalala, Sergeant Ntuthuko Dladla, and Sergeant Samkelo Mbotho—were arrested on January 31 and granted R1,000 bail each. Their case has been postponed to May 29 for further investigation.
Asaneng also revealed that rehabilitation work has begun at one of the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine shafts, with heavy machinery like bulldozers clearing the site. The Department of Minerals, Energy, and Petroleum is overseeing the process. Meanwhile, of the 93 bodies of zama zamas retrieved from the mine, only eight have been identified so far.
The identified individuals include three Mozambicans, three Lesotho nationals, and two Zimbabweans. DNA samples have been collected from 84 bodies, with 71 profiles successfully derived. Authorities are urging families to come forward to assist with identification.
Operation Vala Umgodi, a nationwide crackdown on illegal mining, continues to yield results. North West Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Wessels Morweng highlighted the economic impact of illegal mining, which costs South Africa over R70 billion annually in gold mining alone. “We are grateful for the successful operation in Stilfontein where, though the problem is not completely over, it had been significantly stemmed,” Morweng said. Recent arrests in the Bojanala district included suspects from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Pakistan, reflecting the diverse nationalities involved in illegal mining.
