SAPS
Police in Gauteng have arrested four people at a house in Bekkersdal, south of Randburg, for allegedly smuggling food and mining equipment to illegal miners.
Captain Mavela Masondo says one of the four suspects is the 31-year-old supervisor of the company providing security services at the mine.
It is alleged that on Tuesday evening, security guards on duty noticed a white bakkie parked at an isolated ventilation site of the mine.
Captain Masondo says as they approached the bakkie, four suspects jumped off the vehicle and fled on foot while the driver also sped off.
The guards gave chase and intercepted the vehicle.
Captain Masondo says they found mining equipment, including a grinder, welding machine and electric cords.
West Rand Rural Safety police officers were called to the scene and interviewed the suspect who led them to a house in Bekkersdal.
Captain Masondo says in the yard they found a Toyota Quantum loaded with packed groceries and other assortments. Upon searching the house, more food packs, to the estimated value of R1 million, were found in one of the rooms.
Another two men aged 31 and 32 and a woman aged 27 were arrested in the house.
The suspects will be charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and will appear in the Westonaria Magistrates' Court soon
