By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
An intelligence-led operation investigating illegal mining uncovered a fully-fledged gold refinery on a smallholding in Zuurbekom, Westonaria.
“Approximately 1260 tons of gold-bearing material with an estimated value of R3m was found along with two generators, nearly 200kg of loaded carbon and a cellphone,” said Gauteng Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Philani Nkwalase.
The operation was executed by an integrated team led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in collaboration with the Tactical Response Team (TRT) and various divisions.
Nkwalase said the operation resulted in the arrest of a 22-year-old suspect.
He said the suspect was arrested on Tuesday, and all exhibits were seized for further investigation.
Nkwalase added that the suspect was a foreign national without proper documentation.
He will also be charged with contravening the Immigration Act.
He will appear in the Westonaria Magistrates Court on 18 May 2023, on charges including contravention of the Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005.
The Hawks provincial head in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, praised the team’s exceptional work.
Kadwa said: “The suspect was clearly not working alone, our work is cut out and no stone will be left unturned”.
The Precious Metals Act of 2005 governs the handling of precious metals and their ores in South Africa.
It’s illegal to operate beyond the premises described in the license, be in possession of unwrought precious metal outside the licensed premises.
As per the act, it is also an offence to conduct business under a name that differs from the name used on the licensed premises or place.
Precious metals may not be refined or worked on outside the boundaries of the mine without the legally-prescribed documentation.