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The Hawks said two men aged 22 and 23, will appear in the Vereeniging Magistrate Court on Wednesday for allegedly operating an “illegal gold refinery” on a plot in De Deur outside Johannesburg.
Spokesperson, Colonel Philani Nkwalase, said the two were arrested on Monday on a plot at Walkers Fruit Farms after a drunk man was seen apparently provoking other people in the street.
He said they stopped and took the man back to his place where they were drawn by the sound of machinery being used.
Nkwalase said the duo was found busy processing gold-bearing material in one of the outside rooms.
“The police also found more gold-bearing material valued at approximately R800 000, near their processing room. Furthermore, five pendukas were also found as well as a 19 kg gas cylinder and two small bottles of mercury,” he added.
Nkwalase said members of the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation Team, the Forensic Science Laboratory from Pretoria, and representatives from Sibanye Mining were called to the scene.
“The suspects were arrested and all items used in the commission of crime were seized for further investigation,” he said.
