In an effort to clamp down on the growing scourge of illegal mining and the trafficking of precious metals and diamonds, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), in conjunction with the South African Diamond and Precious Metal Regulator (SADPMR), has attained notable success by shutting down an illegally operating gold refinery in Springs, Ekurhuleni, yesterday.
On checking the documents of this refinery in Watt Road, New Era, Springs, it was established that the refinery was operating without a licence. With the challenge of illegal mining on the East Rand, it is suspected that gold-bearing material from these illegal mining activities may have made their way into this refinery.
The Hawks team will question the owner of this refinery, who was away during the raid, in due course. The site manager, who was at the refinery at the time, surrendered gold to the value of R10 000, 00, and the team, seized 50 kg of gold-bearing material with an estimated street value of R1,5 million.
"The trade of illegal gold is a growing syndicate-driven problem in Gauteng in all illegal mining activities. If we shut down the illegal refineries, the illegal minerals will have no market," said Major General Shadrack Sibiya, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in Gauteng.
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