By Alicia Mmashakana
Five accused have been held in custody after appearing before the Tlhabane Magistrate’s Court in North West on charges of illegal precious metal trade and theft of precious metals.
The Hawks, the Organised Crime Component of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, and the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) collaborated to bring the accused to court on charges of possession of unwrought precious metals.
North West Hawks Spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said the accused Claudette Du Plessis (36), George Sambo (37), Michael Du Plessis (40), Alphigio Tavavinga (42) and Hendrick Viljoen (67) appeared in the Tlhabane Magistrates Court on Thursday, 08 August 2024.
Initially, seven suspects were arrested, but upon conducting preliminary investigation, two were released as they could not be linked to the crime.
“The accused were arrested on Wednesday, 07 August 2024, in Rustenburg and Brits by members of North West Hawks in collaboration with KwaZulu-Natal Hawks, DPCI Head Office’s Tactical Operations Management Section, SAPS Airwing and Digital Forensic Laboratory,” said Mathebula
Colonel Mathebula said their arrest follows information received about theft of suspected platinum group material at a mine in Rustenburg, estimated at R350 million.
The accused have been remanded in custody, and their matter was postponed to 16 August 2024 for formal bail application.
The North West Hawks Head, Major General Patrick Mbotho, and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Rachel Makhari, have commended the whole team on the good work.
Major General Patrick Mbotho, Head of the North West Hawks, and Dr Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions, commended the whole team on their good work.
INSIDE POLITICS
