Africa-Press – South-Africa. Five illegal miners have been fined and jailed for running an illegal gold refinery in Doringkuil, De Deur, south of Johannesburg, and they are expected to be deported to their home countries on completion of their sentences after the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court declared them undesirable persons on Thursday.
Alex Mathe, 18, Isaak Ndlovu, 24, Louis Mothesse, 37, and a 17-year-old, who can’t be identified, are Mozambican nationals. Their co-accused, Masilo Mpheng, 25, is from Lesotho.
All five were charged with contravening several statutes, including the Precious Metals Act, the Mine Health and Safety Act, as well as the Immigration Act.
Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha said the zama zamas were arrested on Tuesday and at their first court appearance on Thursday, they were convicted and sentenced.
They were arrested when Sedibeng Crime Intelligence officials acted on a tip-off about suspicious activities in Doringkuil at a plot along Pasteur Road.
On arrival at the scene, a Nissan bakkie, cellphones and equipment associated with illegal mining were seized, along with about 80 tons of gold-bearing materials, Ramovha said.
He added:
The head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, commended the team for their “outstanding efforts in dismantling yet another illegal mining activity”.
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