TETSIMONY REVEALS SCALE OF ILLEGAL GOLD OPERATION: '30 BAGS OF GOLD'

PIGG’S PEAK – A sworn affidavit from a witness in the ongoing investigation into illegal gold mining at the abandoned Pigg’s Peak Mine has shed new light on the scale of the operation, revealing the discovery of ‘more than 30 bags’ of gold-bearing material at the site.

The witness, whose identity is being withheld for their safety, detailed their involvement in an operation that culminated in a dramatic raid by soldiers.

According to the affidavit, filed as part of the ongoing court proceedings, the witness, along with others, was present at the A1 Forest site when soldiers arrived.

“Initially at the site, there were more than (30) 12.5kg bags full of sand,” the witness stated in their affidavit. This revelation underscores the sheer volume of material being processed, indicating a highly organised and lucrative illegal mining operation.The affidavit also provides a harrowing account of the soldiers’ arrival and subsequent actions. “I saw an army Land Cruiser car speeding towards our direction carrying more than 10 soldiers in number and we had no alternative of running away,” the witness recounted.

“The soldiers then instructed those who were using the machine to disconnect it and load it into the car, two bags of 12.5kg full of sand and the two phendula machines were loaded into the Nissan Hardbody while the generator was loaded into the Land Cruiser car.”This testimony corroborates previous reports of the seizure of a Nissan Hardbody, a stone crusher, and a generator, all believed to be instrumental in the illegal mining activities. The witness further described the intense interrogation that followed, with soldiers demanding information about fleeing suspects. “The soldiers then started beating us wanting us to direct  them where the others had run away to,” the affidavit revealed.

The affidavit aligns with earlier police reports that have identified Noah Wonder Respi Dlamini as the alleged mastermind behind the operation. As previously reported, Dlamini is currently a fugitive, with police intensifying their search for him.

The seized vehicle, a Nissan Hardbody with modified floodlights, has been linked to numerous cross-border trips into South Africa, raising suspicions of an organised smuggling network. The vehicle and mining equipment are now subject to a preservation order under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).

The revelation of the ‘30 bags’ of gold-bearing material, as detailed in the witness’ affidavit, has significantly amplified the gravity of the illegal mining operation. Investigations are ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information about Noah Wonder Respi Dlamini’s whereabouts to come forward.

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