JOHANNESBURG – Four men have each been sentenced to one year in prison after they were convicted of illegal mining in Northern Cape, police said on Thursday.
Spokesperson captain Philani Nkwalase said the four men were arrested in April for mining diamonds illegally on De Beers mining area in Kleinzee, a small village on the west coast of the Northern Cape, where their mining implements were seized.
The men aged between 29 and 40 – Ayanda Booi, Fikile Sixeshe, Monwabisi Vincent Ntsham, and Kwenza Ndlovu – were convicted on Tuesday.
“They first appeared in court on 26 April 2016 and were released on warning with stringent bail conditions. The Port Nolloth Magistrate’s Court found them guilty of trespassing and illegal mining on 29 November 2016,” Nkwalase said.
“They were all sentenced to 12 months imprisonment or pay R6 000 fine. Additionally, they were sentenced to six months imprisonment or R2 000 fine, suspended for five years on condition that they do commit similar offences during the said period.”