Six suspected illegal miners have been shot and killed in a shootout with members of the Special Task Force assisted by the Hawks Organised Crime Unit in North West.
Colonel Katlego Mogale says eight other miners were wounded and a total of 87 suspects arrested during Wednesday night's shootout in Orkney.
The men, aged 25 to 49, were arrested during an intelligence driven operation involving a host of role players who descended on an identified mine shaft where they were met with gunfire.
Colonel Mogale says one of the Task Team members was wounded in the fire fight and that the wounded suspects were taken to hospital under police guard.
Police seized two minibusses, Illegal mining paraphernalia, gold bearing material, 11 firearms and bags of food.
The suspects will appear in the Orkney Magistrate's court on Monday, 25 October, on a myriad of charges including attempted murder, illegal possession of gold and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
