THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s Asset Forfeiture Unit, in collaboration with a special illegal mining unit in the SAPS, has obtained a provisional preservation of property order for the seizure of assets to the estimated value of more than R1,5 billion.
This comes after a man was arrested following a raid on a farm in Carolina Mpumalanga in September.
According to NPA regional spokeswoman Monica Nyuswa, the police held an operation on the farm on 19 September 2023, where they saw the magnitude of the illegal coal mining operation on the farm.
She said on the day, the police arrested the illegal mine manager Paul Boshoff and seized assets on the farm.
On Tuesday, 21 November, the NPA was able to get preservation order against the assets seized.
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Nyuswa said the frozen assets include a farm in Carolina, coal, cars and heavy-duty machinery used at an alleged illegal mine in Mpumalanga.
She said an estimated 270 000 tons of coal was allegedly mined illegally on two portions of the farm over a two-year period by a company named GNJ Mining.
Nyuswa said that at a minimum estimated market value price of R980 per ton, the estimated 270 000 tons that were illegally mined, amounted to about R264 million worth of coal that was illegally mined on the farm during the two years.
“GNJ Mining never had lawful authorisation or permit from the Department of Mineral Resources and Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs to mine coal on the farm.
“The illicit coal that was mined on the farm was taken to Droogvalley Barrel Plant in the Carolina area, where the coal was processed and washed to prepare it for sale to GNJ Mining’s coal-using clients,” she said.
She added that the criminal case is expected to be heard on 16 February 2024 in the Carolina Magistrates Court.
