File
Police said an investigation was underway into a shooting incident between alleged illegal miners and law enforcement agencies in Sabie on Thursday
Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said police and other law enforcement agencies were conducting routine patrols in the area of the new village mining shaft in the Nelspruit area when they were reportedly shot at, allegedly by illegal miners.
“The report indicates that the miners fired shots at the police from different directions, resulting in the injury of a Warrant Officer from the K9 Unit who was shot in the leg.
“In response, the law enforcement officers fired back, and it was during this period when three alleged miners were fatally shot,” Mdhluli said.
He said two AK-47 rifles as well as approximately 500 rounds of ammunition were recovered at the crime scene.
Mdhluli said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will lead the investigation with regard to circumstances surrounding this incident.
Mpumalanga’s acting police commissioner, major-general Zeph Mkhwanazi said from the evidence collected at the scene, “one can clearly see that we are dealing with a serious situation whereby alleged illegal miners mean business are heavily armed”.
He said it was crucial that police members remain vigilant at all times.
