AFU secures three forfeiture orders related to illegal mining kingpins

25 March 2024

The Pretoria Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority secured three forfeiture orders to the value of R18 Million at the Pretoria High Court on 20 March 2024. The orders are to forfeit various properties belonging to Bethuel Ngobeni, Lerato Bathebeng, Poppy Mathongwane, Bongani Khumalo, Dumisani Moyo, 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, which are the proceeds of unlawful activities of a syndicate dealing in unwrought gold in Khutsong area, Carletonville. The three final forfeiture orders are for 51 vehicles and 7 properties in Khutshong, Carletonville, Potchefstroom, and Krugersdorp as well as16 bank accounts.

This emanates from a criminal investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) registered project Gillette in 2018 with the specific purpose of infiltrating a syndicate which dealt in unwrought gold. Where they illegally buy gold-bearing materials (amalgam) from legal mining workers and illegally from Zama-zamas. They then process it into gold nuggets and sell it around the Johannesburg area, but the main buyers are unknown at this moment. The syndicate is mainly composed of foreign nationals from Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Some members of the syndicate acquired South African Identity documents fraudulently.

The next step is for the properties to be sold at a public auction and the proceeds to be paid into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account (CARA). The trial against the 9 accused who are facing various charges including money laundering and racketeering is set to start on 24 July 2024 at the Pretoria High Court after it was transferred from Oberholzer Magistrates’ Court.

These forfeiture orders are part of the implementation of the Asset Forfeiture Unit’s asset recovery strategy to claim the proceeds of criminal activities back to the state. The overall National Anti-Corruption strategy by law enforcement agencies is to strengthen the fight against corruption by pursuing both civil and criminal processes to ensure that impunity is no longer a given.

Issued by Lumka Mahanjana, NPA Regional Spokesperson, Gauteng Division: Pretoria, 215 March 2024