By Phenyo Selinda
Fourteen suspects, aged between 26 and 51, are scheduled to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 15 August 2024. This follows their arrest for allegedly operating illicit gold processing facilities in Eikenhof, Johannesburg South, according to the Hawks’ Spokesperson, Captain Lloyd Ramovha.
The arrests were made on Tuesday, 13 August 2024, during a proactive, multifaceted operation led by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team. This operation was prompted by numerous community complaints regarding the illegal activities in and around Eikenhof. The suspects, all of whom are Zimbabwean nationals, face charges of illegal possession of unwrought precious metals, contraventions of the Immigration Act, and violations of the Environmental Act.
Captain Lloyd Ramovha detailed the operation, stating, “The West Rand-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, armed with a search warrant, descended on the illegal facilities at around 10:00 am. It was an all-encompassing law enforcement line-up with the police Tactical Response Team (TRT), Gauteng Traffic helicopters, local Community Police Forum members, and various governmental departments, including the Department of Health & Safety, Gauteng Traffic Department, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, as well as the South African Diamond & Precious Metals Regulator.”
The coordinated effort successfully brought an end to the illegal activities on the plots located on either side of the R554 road. Authorities seized and removed tons of soil containing gold-bearing material valued at over R2.5 million. This material was handed over to stakeholders in the mining sector for proper processing.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, visited the scene and commended the multidisciplinary team for their efforts. He expressed concern over the presence of such illegal operations within residential areas, highlighting the severe health and environmental risks posed by the unregulated use of hazardous chemicals like cyanide. “The existence of such facilities, particularly in residential areas, poses a health and environmental challenge. The use of cyanide to extract gold in such an unregulated environment is a recipe for disaster. The illegal activities also have a negative impact on the country’s economy. We urge all communities who suspect similar illicit activities to report such to authorities,” Major General Kadwa remarked.
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