Miners arrested for gold theft
PRETORIA: Twenty miners have been arrested for allegedly stealing gold, believed to be worth millions, at the Sibanye Gold mine on Gauteng's West Rand.
Image: www.freedigitalphotos.net
The suspects aged between 25 and 54 are all employees at the Sibanye's plant shaft in Carletonville.
They are alleged to be part of a syndicate which will face charges of theft and illegally dealing in gold.
They have been under surveillance for more than five months.
"The Hawks' investigation into this syndicate has been continuing for the past few months, after an arrest in December 2013. During this time two former Sibanye mine workers, 31-year-old Dumisani Gumede and 54-year-old Armando Zitha, were arrested after being found in possession of gold-bearing material valued at thousands of rands," Hawks spokesperson Captain Paul Ramaloko said.
Ramaloko said Gumede and Zitha, who are out on R5,000 bail each, appeared in the Oberholzer Magistrates' Court in Carltonville on 12 June 2014, before they were rearrested to join their co-accused.
The 20 suspects were expected to appear in the Oberholzer Magistrates' Court today, 13 June 2014.
Source: SAnews.gov.za
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