The South African police has launched a manhunt for James Neo Tshoaeli known as Tiger the Stilfontein mine underground kingpin which evaded arrest during Operation Vala Umgodi last week in North West.
The National Spokesperson for SAPS,Brigadier Athlenda Mathe has revealed that the Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West,Major General Patrick Asaneng has ordered maximum resources to be mobilised in finding an alleged kingpin who resurfaced from Shaft 11 in Stilfontein last week.
According to Brigadier Mathe,Major General Asaneng has also warned that heads will roll once they find those officials that aided the kingpin to escape from police custody after resurfacing shaft 11 last week.
She has confirmed that someone helped the kingpin to escape because there is no records for him at the local police station and hospital.
She stated that extensive investigations and tracing operations are underway to find those officials who aided his escape between Shaft 11 and the Stilfontein police holding cells.According to records,TIGER was never booked into various other stations where some illegal miners are being kept.TIGER is also not admitted at a local hospital for further medical care.
She said the alleged kingpin and ringleader is a Lesotho national and according to records his name is James Neo Tshoaeli but is commonly known as TIGER.
She highlighted that police investigations found out that TIGER was one of the masterminds which were responsible for operations underground and the death of illegal miners.
"TIGER is being fingered in several statements as one of the ring leaders who controlled operations underground.He is also being accused by some illegal miners who resurfaced underground as him being allegedly responsible for some deaths,assault and torture that is alleged to have taken place according to videos in police possession.He is also alleged to have hoarded and kept food away from other illegal miners,"she added.
According to Brigadier Mathe,Major General Asaneng has expressed disappointment in what he terms as an embarrassment to the Vala Umgodi operation that has been running from December 2023.
She said he has vowed to ensure that those responsible for this escape from custody are brought to book and that TIGER is found.
The police are warning people that the kingpin is very dangerous and must inform police if they know his whereabouts.
"TIGER is a fugitive of justice and is considered dangerous.Members of the public are advised to share any information pertaining to his whereabouts to the Stilfontein police station,"she concluded.
Last week,police rescued 236 illegal miners and 78 dead bodies recovered,and it was reported that close to 1500 miners escaped before the rescue operation was launched.
Police confirmed that more than 1500 illegal miners were arrested in Stilfontein mine since the operation Vala Umgodi was initiated last year.
The majority of those illegal miners got arrested there are foreigners from these countries Mozambique,Lesotho,Zimbabwe,Malawi and South Africa.