Two suspects aged 37 and 43 were arrested by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation on Thursday, 15 June 2023 in Rustenburg.
The team was following up on information from Bidvest Protea Coin Security regarding a vehicle belonging to the said company that was allegedly spotted loaded with catalytic converters.
Subsequently, the vehicle was traced to a house in Phokeng where a team searched the premises including a shack and allegedly found catalytic converters worth approximately R1,7 million.
The tenant of the shack, who is an employee of Impala Platinum Mine, was then arrested.
An employee of Bidvest Protea Coin Security, who was allegedly the driver, was traced and found in Boitekong.
He was then taken to the scene where he allegedly confirmed that the catalytic converters were stolen from Impala Platinum Mine.
Both suspects will appear before Tlhabane Magistrate’s Court on 19 June 2023 where they will face charges of theft.