The bakkie which was apprehended
By Kopano Dibakwane
Five suspects were arrested on Thursday 18 April, after they were found in possession of gold bearing material without a permit.
The suspects were reportedly travelling between Nelspruit and Sabie when their white Colt single cab bakkie was intercepted by the police. The bakkie was reportedly fully loaded with 23 bags of the gold bearing material.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said a preliminary investigation revealed that the luggage was being transported from Ngodwana, outside of Mbombela, headed to Sabie where the material was reportedly supposed to be processed.
“ Out of the five occupants that were inside the car, two are South Africans aged 41 and 55, as well as three Zimbabwean nationals aged between 33 and 38. Neither one of the five(suspects) had a permit to possess the gold bearing material, hence they were apprehended and charged for unlawful possession of the material,” said Mdhluli.
He said that additional charges, in relation to Contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa, were laid against the Zimbabwean nationals as they did not have valid documentation to be in South Africa. Mdhluli added that the police are working closely with officials from the Department of Home Affairs.
“ The gold bearing material was seized during the arrest whilst the vehicle, they were travelling in, was confiscated for further investigation as police are adamant that the car was used in the commision of a crime,” said Mdhluli.
The five suspects appeared before the Sabie Magistrate’s Court on Friday 19.
