Former Middelburg mayor Mike Masina and his business partner Johan van Wyk handed themselves over to police yesterday.

They were subsequently released on R2 000 bail each and will appear in court again on March 28.

The duo allegedly contravened environmental impact laws pertaining to an illegal coal yard. Coal to the value of more than R500 000 is involved.

According to police, the men could not produce the necessary permits and documentation for running the yard.

However, Masina says they have applied for the necessary permits and documentation which have not been issued due to bureaucratic red tape in the Department of Minerals and Energy.

He adds says their names will be cleared when the misunderstanding is cleared up in court.

The charges comes on the back of a number of other arrests made by the Green Scorpions at two alleged illegal coal yards close to Pienaar Dam, on Wednesday.

The owners of the smallholdings, and their personnel were all arrested.

Machinery and vehicles were also confiscated.