| 2024/03/20 |
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African Police Service
RICHARDS BAY – A 44- year-old truck driver is expected to appear before the Empangeni Magistrates Court today. The suspect was arrested on Monday, 18 March 2024 when he was found in possession of stolen Zircon and Chloride mineral worth R15,5 million rand. An SAPS task team that has been deployed to the Richards Bay area to prevent and combat theft of mineral as well as the assassination of mining executives was following up on information of a truck loaded with stolen minerals. The abandoned truck was recovered in the Kwabonambi area. Further investigation led the team to an address in Durban where the minerals were found. It was later discovered that the minerals had been stolen from Richards Bay Minerals (RBM). A case of theft of mineral is under investigation. Since the deployment of this task team to Richards Bay, 43 accused have since been arrested for charges ranging from murder, theft, trespassing, possssion of suspected stolen property, unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition, fraud and intimidation. 68 dockets are currently under investigation. 47 of these cases are before various courts. 202 firearms have also been confiscated in the last three years. These includes rifles, handguns and shotguns.
Two weeks ago, the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele together with the National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola met with the business community in the area where all parties jointly committed to strengthening working relations and deploying more police officers to the area to prevent and combat acts of criminality related to the mining sector.
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