Illegal gold refinery found with R3 million worth of gold bearing material

GAUTENG – An intelligence driven operation resulted in the arrest of a 22-year-old suspect and detection of a fully operational gold refinery laboratory in a smallholding in Zuurbekom, Westonaria. Approximately one thousand two hundred and sixty (1260) tons of gold bearing material with an estimated value of R3 million was found along with two (2) generators, nearly two hundred (200) kg of loaded carbon and a cell phone. The suspect was arrested and all exhibits were seized for further investigation.

The suspect who is a foreign national, was not in possession of proper documentation and an additional charge of contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 may be preferred against him. He is expected to appear on 18 May 2023 in the Westonaria Magistrates Court on charges of contravention of Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005 and operating an illegal gold refinery.