The Kimberley Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, together with the De Aar Public Order Policing unit and the Home Affairs Immigration office, arrested 26 illegal miners in Niekerkshoop.
THE KIMBERLEY Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, together with the De Aar Public Order Policing unit and the Home Affairs Immigration office, arrested 26 illegal miners in Niekerkshoop.
Hawks Northern Cape spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Tebogo Thebe said the team pounced on the suspects after information was received that illegal mining activities were taking place at Kromaar farm/mine.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that only nine individuals were permitted to mine at the said property. According to the mining rights, none of the permit holders can transfer, assign, or sublet anybody to mine on their behalf,” said Thebe.
He added that the suspects appeared before the Prieska Magistrate’s Court on November 22 for their first court appearance.
“They were charged with the illegal mining of tiger’s eye, a semi-precious stone,” said Thebe.
Thebe said the list of suspects includes Jienjun Lieng, Ricardo Molatlhegi, Joseph Ntamo, Ronaldo Ludic, Sibongile Jacobs, Warren Plaatjies, Isaac Khonto, Petrus Saal, Jan Monyamane, Lee Ann Van Wyk, Vusimuzi Masuku, Renze L, Richard Khonto, Joshua Rossouw, Nico De Reuk, Chris Mzobe, Jan Witbooi, Rowline Hoogstander, Herbizell Duraan, Johannes Poolman, Bradley Jacobs, Willem Bezeidenhout, a Nigerian national Sunday Izuoba, Hendri Witbooi and Kuena Makhongoana.
“The matter was postponed until November 25.”
