JOHANNESBURG, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The South African police said on Wednesday that they arrested 43 people for illegal mining on Tuesday night in Ga-Phasha Village in the country's northernmost province of Limpopo.
At about 11:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, they raided the illegal miners and arrested the 43, with 41 being undocumented Zimbabweans, one Mozambican and one South African, the police said in a statement.
"Upon arrival, police found the suspects busy mining a precious metal (chrome) at the mine without authorization. The scene was cordoned off, and 43 suspects were ultimately apprehended," the police said, adding that they have confiscated 12 generators and 10 jackhammers valued at 10,000 U.S. dollars and chrome estimated to be over 58,823 U.S. dollars.
Some foreigners from the neighboring countries have been entering South Africa illegally and doing illegal mining in the country.
