Gauteng police have confirmed that a viral be-on-the-lookout poster for Veralogix boss George van der Merwe is fake.

Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, however, confirmed that an arrest warrant has been authorised for the apprehension of Van der Merwe in regard to an intimidation complaint lodged in Gauteng by an unknown complainant.

Van der Merwe’s attorney, Andre van Aswegen, expressed concern over the fake police poster being circulated and said it was odd that the complaint was registered in Gauteng and not in Middelburg, where Van der Merwe resides.

Van der Merwe has not commented on either the arrest warrant or the fake poster.

The poster does not contain an active case number and Van der Merwe’s last name is incorrectly spelt.

In an exclusive response to the Middelburg Observer last week, Van der Merwe addressed the alleged threats by denying “making any threats of violence, including death threats, against any person or their families”.

“I do not intend or advocate harm toward any person,” he told the Middelburg Observer.

He added that he does not claim “authority to punish, condemn, or enforce judgment on any individual or family”.

He made it clear that he does not engage in coercion or threats.

Van der Merwe’s response was in reaction to ongoing allegations of death threats and intimidation by Liberty Coal, with Liberty claiming the partnership between Liberty Coal and Veralogix soured due to allegations levelled against Van der Merwe.

Liberty Coal recently announced the replacement of Optimum’s primary mining contractor with its own affiliated Liberty Mining Services.

Van der Merwe has distanced himself from Salaria, the ousted primary contractor, with sources saying Veralogix was only involved in the recent refurbishment of an Optimum dragline that is now back in production.

Liberty did not blame Van der Merwe for the ongoing protests at its offices and at Optimum directly, but alluded to third-party involvement behind the protests both in a statement to the Middelburg Observer and in court, where Liberty lost an urgent High Court application to bar protesters from its properties and Optimum.

Van der Merwe denies this.

Outside court, protesters also rubbished claims that they were being bankrolled by Van der Merwe to destabilise Liberty’s Optimum operations, instead blaming Liberty for dissolving its stakeholders’ forum without consultation, among other complaints.

The court struck Liberty’s application from the roll with a cost order, resulting in a scathing response from Liberty, which said: “Liberty Coal, as a company endeavouring with its own resources to rebuild what once was a functional mine destroyed by thieves and vandals from many of these same communities, takes due cognisance of the kind of future this approach portends.”

Liberty wanted the court to order protesters to disarm and identify themselves by not wearing balaclavas and other face coverings.

Both the Steve Tshwete and Nkangala municipalities were respondents in the High Court matter, alongside the national, provincial and local SAPS.

Van der Merwe’s attorney has been in contact with Gauteng police, and Van der Merwe is not in hiding, as the rumour mill suggests.

Van der Merwe has not been charged with any crime.

• Police have refused to identify the complainant.