Five people were arrested in raids at the Karee hostel in Marikana in the early hours of Saturday morning, said police.
Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said the arrests came amid a disarmament operation at the hostel where hundreds Lonmin mineworkers .
Police confiscated a large number of knobkerries, pangas and other dangerous weapons.
Ngubane could not give an exact quantity of arms confiscated, but said “truck loads” of contraband weapons were seized.
“The five who were arrested, though, were arrested for dealing in dagga.”
Ngubane said another seven people were arrested on Friday afternoon under the illegal gathering act.
Those arrested were expected to appear in court on Monday.
Workers at Lonmin downed tools four weeks ago, demanding a salary increase of R12 500. They refused to return to work unless their demands were met, despite a peace accord that was signed by the unions.
Last month, the protest turned violent and police shot dead 34 protesters and injured 78.
Another 10 people were killed in the week leading up to the protest.
This week another man, NUM shop steward Dumisani Mthinti, was found dead not far from where the protesters normally converge in Wonderkop.-Sapa