Illegal mining operations on the far West Rand in Gauteng were dealt a major blow after numerous alleged kingpins were arrested.

The Pretoria Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks Priority Crimes Specialised Investigation and Serious Organised Crime Investigation Units secured preservation orders in the case of alleged illegal mining kingpins to the value of R16m.

In a statement issued by NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Colonel Katlego Mogale explained that the orders were issued in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1988 at the Pretoria High Court.

These orders are to preserve various properties belonging to the accused and are proceeds of unlawful activities of a syndicate dealing in unwrought gold in Khutsong, Carletonville, on the far West Rand. A preservation order is an official order by a court that makes it illegal to destroy or change property.

An investigation by the DPCI resulted in the accused being arrested.

The accused are Dumisani Moyo, Bethuel Ngobeni, Nhlanhla Leon Magwaca, Thabiso Sechele and Moseki Sechele.

The six are facing seven counts of unlawful dealing in precious metals and three counts of fraud and money laundering. Four of the accused are also facing charges of being in the country illegally. It is alleged that the six men ran an operation where they illegally collected precious metals from disused and abandoned mines, and processed and sold them. It is further alleged that with the proceeds they obtained from selling the metals, they bought properties using falsified names.

The orders were to preserve various properties belonging to Bethuel Ngobeni, Lerato Bathebeng, Poppy Mathongwane, Bongani Khumalo, Dumisani Moyo, as well as Kesitaal Pty Ltd – a company belonging to Moyo, Nhlanhla Leon Magwaca, Neo Susan Duba, Tsepo Dube, Itumeleng Rejoice Magagane, Gloria Kgalalelo Magagane, Mlambo, Nhlanhla Mathebula, Manuel Nhamucho and Thabiso Sechele.

“Three preservation orders have been obtained. The first order was obtained on July 31, the second on August 7, and the third was obtained on August 30. All these orders are for 51 vehicles and seven properties in Khutsong and Carletonville.

“All of the six accused are remanded in custody, however, Moyo was granted bail after he appealed at the high court. Some of the properties belong to four of the accused. The case is set to appear in court on September 7,” the statement reads.

The preservation orders are for property in Van der Hoffpark in Potchefstroom, in Khutsong Ext 2, Homes Haven in Krugersdorp, Oberholzer, two Carletonville properties, and a construction company. The vehicles include nine Volkswagens, eight Toyotas including a Land Cruiser, four Audis, a Mazda, two Fords, five Nissans, one BMW, one Land Rover, and two Hyundais, among others.