Limpopo- On Monday, 16 September, the accused Mr Thomas Jeremiah Makhubele (32) a Mozambican national appeared in the Mokopane Regional Court, pleaded guilty for charges of refining minerals (gold) without permit and contravention of the Immigration Act. He was sentenced to nine (9) years direct imprisonment.
On 13 April 2022, Polokwane based Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation, together with Limpopo Illegal Mining Task Team and Polokwane Local Criminal Record Central (LCRC) conducted a disruptive operation at Berggeneg village outside Polokwane.
During operation, police pounced on three accused who were refining gold without a permit. They were arrested on the spot. The accused, Mr Makhubela tried to entice the operational force with gratification of two thousand rands (R2 000) but instead an additional charge of corruption was added against him. The corruption case was finalized at Polokwane High Court sitting, where he was sentenced to five (5) years of direct imprisonment.
Other two accused, Piet Sekokotlo and Arnold Simango, a foreign national were taken to court where they were released on bail. The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation was entrusted with the investigation of the matter.
Through the meritorious investigations, Makhubele pleaded guilty and sentenced as follows:
Count 1: Guilty for possession of unwrought precious metal :Sentenced to five (5) years imprisonment
Count 2: Guilty for failure to enter South African at port of entry: Sentenced to two (2) years imprisonment
Count 3: Contravening Immigration Act by entering South African without valid passport: Sentenced to two (2) years imprisonment.
The case docket was postponed to 26 September 2024 for separation of trial for Piet Sekokotlo (accused number two). Accused number three absconded upon being released on bail. A search to secure his appearance in court is underway.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender welcomed the conviction and the sentenced of the accused. He further called upon the absconted accused to hand himself to the police as soon as possible before the Hawks re-arrest him.
