MBABANE – A red Mazda Demio, suspected of being used in illegal gold mining activities, has been seized following an order by the High Court.
The vehicle, carrying alleged gold stones, was abandoned by an alleged ‘zama zama’ (illegal miner) during a police pursuit in Pigg’s Peak and it is now the subject of a preservation order under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 2018 (POCA).
The order was issued yesterday by Judge Sabelo Masuku. The application was brought by the director of public prosecutions (DPP), represented by Crown Counsel Fikile Dlamini. The court has prohibited any person from dealing with the vehicle, a Mazda Demio registered USD 396 DH, pending the finalisation of forfeiture proceedings.
According to the founding affidavit deposed to by Head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit, Principal Crown Counsel Elsie Matsebula the events leading to the seizure began on November 21, 2025.
She said at approximately 3:10pm, police officers conducted a roadside check at the three Way not too far from the Pigg’s Peak Police Station. Matsebula submitted that, acting on information provided by Detective Constable Nomfundo Dlamini, officers intercepted the red Mazda, as it travelled from the direction of Msumpe.
The driver, identified as Mpendulo Shiba of Malanda, was asked to produce a driver’s licence. While he claimed to possess a licence belonging to someone else, he reportedly failed to hand it over. According to Matsebula, in a sudden turn of events, Mpendulo alighted from the vehicle and fled on foot towards Peak Central High School. Despite being pursued by Constable Muzi Ginindza, he managed to evade capture and a passenger in the vehicle also left the scene shortly after the driver fled.
Upon searching the abandoned vehicle, police discovered a white sack in the boot containing suspected gold stones. The search further uncovered a Kingsley backpack containing items associated with mining, including black track pants, an orange jacket, an army green T-shirt, working gloves, a hammer with a metal handle, a cooler box and water boots.
The investigation into the vehicle’s origins revealed contradictions regarding its purchase. Financial investigators, led by Detective Constable Enock Maseko, traced the car to Data Motors (Proprietary) Limited in Matsapha. Records indicated that the vehicle was sold on August 3, 2025, for a total price of E128 000.
Sher Falik of Data Motors provided a memorandum of agreement showing that Jabulani Mfana Shiba, a kombi driver from Ndzingeni, purchased the car. The records stated that a deposit of E110 000 was paid in hard cash, with a remaining balance of E18 000 to be paid in monthly instalments. However, Falik noted that no further payments had been made since the initial deposit.
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