HEADMAN WAS CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES
Limpopo- A Burgersdorp village headman, Mr Felix Mathebula (70) was convicted and sentenced to five thousand rand (R50 000) fine or two (02) years imprisonment for Contravening Precious Metal Act by Lenyenye District Court on 22 May 2024.
During February 2022, Polokwane based Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation together with members of the Crime Prevention attached to Maake Police Station conducted a disruptive operation addressing Ilegal mining activities at Burgersdorp village.During the operation police found an old man processing minerals using a phenduka refinery machine.
Police requested the documents that allow him to conduct such activities. The accused was not having such documents.
He was arrested for contravening the Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005 by conducting illegal activities of processing mineral without permit to conduct such activities.
During arrest the following equipment were seized:
2 x water drums
2 x phenduka refinery machines
1x bobejan spanner
3x chains
2x Phenduka stand
7 x chisels
2 x hammers
4 x electric cables
2 x shovels
1x spade
1x digging fork
1x handpick
1 x compressor
7 x round silversteel balls
Mathebula was brought to court where he was released on bail of R500.
Through the meritorious investigation of the Hawks the accused was convicted and sentenced.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender praised the investigators and the National Prosecuting Authority for securing a sentence of this accused.
