File
An Eastern Cape man arrested for being in the possession of chrome worth R1.4 million, has been denied bail in the Pretoria North District Court.
The National Prosecuting Authority said 38-year-old Sonwabo Malgas, from Mdantsane in East London, appeared in court on Tuesday alongside co-accused, Hapson Zukuyumo (35), from Zimbabwe.
NPA regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, said they face charges of the possession of stolen property and illegal mining, following their arrest in Rustenburg.
She said Zukuyumo, who abandoned his bail, faces a further charge of being in the country illegally.
Mahanjana said the two were arrested on 16 January when Malgas stopped to assist Zukuyumo, whose truck had a flat tyre.
She said a police patrol approached and upon searching the two trucks found suspected stolen chrome on the vehicles valued at R1.4 million.
Mahanjana said the state indicated that it had a strong case against the two and Malgas, who has a previous conviction, was denied bail.
The matter was postponed to 4 March for further investigation.
