Thirty-eight illegal miners were arrested in Allanridge, near Welkom, on Wednesday morning, Free State police said.
Captain Stephen Thakeng said the arrests were made in a joint operation by police and security guards after an illegal miner was stoned to death in a fight on the mine dump on June 11.
He said the illegal immigrants, who were all from Lesotho, were found on a mine dump at 8am on Wednesday.
In their possession was unwrought gold bearing material, which is unprocessed dust containing gold. Police also confiscated a small amount of dagga.
The men, whose ages ranged from 16 to 40, were charged with trespassing, possession of the unwrought gold and illegal immigration. -
Sapa