Suspects appear in court for alleged illegal gold mining
Information received led to the discovery of an illegal laboratory operation on the farm where a group of suspected illegal miners were allegedly employed to illegally process gold.
A total of 11 suspects, including two minors, appeared in Barberton Magistrates’s Court in connection with illegal gold mining.
They will appear again for their formal bail applications on December 31.
Read: Three alleged illegal miners perish in abandoned mine in Sabie
The suspects, Kapumo Tjuma Monyaredzi (39), Mduduzi Bongani Mutakani (21), Vusi Innocent Nkosi (21), Nkululeko Siyabonga Mnisi(20), Surprise Siboniso Manana(24), Pinias Chitima(20), Kenny Tlou (20) and Markmore Rushambwe (26), were remanded in custody. The two minors were released to the custody of their parents. The alleged mastermind of the group, Friday Oupa Gwebu (37), also known as Bro Cat Chiko, was also remanded in custody.
They were arrested on December 23 after an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the Hawks along with the with National Intervention Unit, Bomb Disposal, Tactical Response Team, Local Criminal Record Centre, SAPS Barberton and SSG Security Services at Brown’s Farm in Barberton.
Also read: Police, SANDF raid yields a number of illegal mining equipment in Barberton
“Information received led to the discovery of an illegal laboratory operation on the farm where a group of suspected illegal miners were allegedly employed to illegally process gold. The sounds of hammers could be heard coming from the nearby bush,” said Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, Hawks’ spokersperson in Mpumalanga.
The suspects include five illegal immigrants and five Mpumalanga residents. Crushed gold bearing materials, pendukas, hammers, generators, cell phones, chemicals and gas cylinders containing mercury were confiscated on the scene.
