A Barberton pastor has been arrested after being found with 60g of gold-bearing material worth roughly R60 000.

Lowvelder reports the 40-year-old pastor and a 37-year-old alleged accomplice were arrested in Barberton on Tuesday after being found illegally in possession of gold-bearing material. The arrests resulted from SAPS members under Operation Vala Umgodi – meaning ‘plug the hole’ – following up on information that people were transporting gold-bearing material along the R38.

A silver SUV matching the description was intercepted and searched. Along with the 60g of gold-bearing material, police found R9 200 in cash. The two suspects were arrested on the spot and charged with illegal possession of gold-bearing material, while the SUV, cash and material were confiscated for further investigation.

Meanwhile, police patrolling the R40 in Barberton and the R38 in Sheba, a settlement northeast of Barberton, arrested two Zimbabwean nationals, aged 25 and 27, who did not have valid documentation to be in the country. They were charged with contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.

It was a busy day for police, who also conducted a disruptive operation in Verulam Village, north of Barberton. There, they seized two abandoned gas cylinders – part of the tools commonly used in illegal mining.

The four suspects are expected to appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court soon.

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