LIMPOPO – A two day disruptive operation between the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit and the Department for Mineral Resource resulted in the arrest of four suspects in Letsitele and Giyani for running backyard gold laboratories.
Provincial Hawks spokesperson, Captain Matimba Maluleke explained that two suspects were arrested on Wednesday,27 March and another two on Thursday, 28 March.
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“The two suspects arrested on Wednesday were arrested in Letsitele and they were found in possession of gold bearing material, explosives, twenty bags of gold ore, gas bottles, pendukas and mercury all worth an estimated R1 million,” Maluleke said. The two suspects have since appeared in the Napuno Magistrate’s Court for Contravention of the Precious Metal Act and were remanded in custody until 4 April 2019 for a formal bail application.
“On Thursday, the combined team were in Mapuve village just outside Giyani and two more suspects were arrested for operating illegal gold laboratories. Members seized bags of gold bearing material, automatic and manual operating pendukas, generators, gas cylinders and industrial hammers, also to the value of R1 million,” he added.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Giyani Magistrate’s Court today, 29 March, for Contravention of the Precious Metal Act.
“In 2017 and 2018, similar operations were conducted in Mapuve village and at the rehabilitated Ellerton Mine situated in Nhlaniki village and more than 70 suspects were arrested for Contravention of the Precious Metal Act and their cases are still ongoing court,” Maluleke concluded.
