Suspected gold thieves busted just outside town
The Hawks are investigating this case.
This week, observant Sibanye-Stillwater security personnel arrested gold thieves in their biggest success in the area in a long time.
The guards were on patrol just outside Carletonville at around 10:00 on Sunday. While driving between the R501 and Fountain Private Hospital, they suddenly noticed a TLB and front-end loader loading soil on the mine’s property.
They investigated and found two trucks and a TLB loading some of the sand.
“Upon questioning the suspects, they could not produce paperwork, and the mine had not given the security guards instruction. The mine also had no knowledge of gold-bearing materials that had to be loaded and transported,” says the Hawks’ spokesperson, Colonel Dorothy Mogale.
“West Rand-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation, members of SAPS Carletonville, Carletonville detectives and Sibanye-Stillwater protection services arrested the men,” says Mogale.
The suspects, Anele Moyo (41), Fanuel Makhiki (44), George Cumbane (47), Alex Bhebha (43) and Mncedisi Alfred Mathebula (38), appeared before the Oberholzer Magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
The case was postponed to 1 November for a formal bail application. They remain in custody.
Two suspects are from Zimbabwe and one from Mozambique.
The other two are South Africans.
“The suspects appeared on charges of theft of gold-bearing materials, possession of suspected stolen property, illegal possession of unwrought precious metals, contravention of the Mining Rights Act (illegal mining), trespassing and contravention of the Immigration Act,” says Mogale.
