South Africa: 6 Zimbabweans Arrested For Illegal Mining, Money Laundering
The Hawks, in collaboration with police and Home Affairs, have arrested six Zimbabweans in connection with illegal mining and money laundering.
The law-enforcement authorities confirmed that six suspects believed to be illegal mining kingpins were arrested in Carletonville and Khutsong during a raid that began in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said:
The Hawks’ Gauteng together with the Department of Home Affairs and other stakeholders are conducting an operation on the illegal mining kingpins’ residences in Carletonville and Khutsong.
Six suspects have been arrested since the early hours of this morning. The multi-disciplinary team is also seizing their luxury vehicles and investigations are still ongoing.
The police said the six kingpins are all from Zimbabwe, while the fugitive is a Mozambican national.
The suspects are facing charges of fraud and money laundering as they are believed to be dealing in precious metals purchased from the infamous Zama Zamas for processing and selling them to the next level in the hierarchy.
A zama-zama (plural zama-zamas) is a person who works illegally in abandoned mineshafts in order to retrieve metals or minerals. Makorokoza or illegal miners in Zimbabwe.
They are expected to appear at the Carletonville magistrate’s court on Wednesday 5 October 2022, on charges of money laundering, dealing in illegal precious metals, and fraud.
Mogale said six transactions were conducted to the value of R500 000.
The Hawks say the suspects’ properties have been seized including luxury vehicles.
