A disruptive operation was conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation in West Rand and Crime Intelligence to address illegal mining activities in the Driefontein 4 Shaft.
Allegations are that the suspects planned to disrupt Sibanye Stillwater underground operations with cloned access cards between February and March this year.
On Thursday, 23 June 2022, authorities conducted a sting operation at the shaft where the suspects were positively identified and subsequently detained for questioning.
Further probing into the incident, the investigation team charged the suspects with fraud, forgery and uttering.
The accused, Nathaniel Mucavel (49), Fikile Zanyei (45), Teboho Sekoho (40), Gabriel Vilanoulo (35), Balae Thakalekoala (33), Justice Tivane (31) and Phumulani Ndlozi (30) appeared in the Carletonville Magistrate’s Court on 27 June 2022 and were remanded in custody pending investigation.
The case is postponed to Monday, 4 July 2022 for a formal bail application and outstanding suspects are being sought.
