Spokesperson for the Hawks in the Free State, Christopher Singo, says the accused - Tebogo Ngobeni, also known as Wonder Msimango - handed himself over to authorities on Tuesday in a sudden twist of events. 

He was accompanied by his legal representation at the time. His apprehension comes over three months after eight of his alleged accomplices in the syndicate were nabbed by authorities following a years-long operation into illicit mining activities in the Free State Goldfields.  

Singo says these syndicate masterminds are owners of legal businesses in the province but used these enterprises to launder monies made from illegal mining activities. They reportedly also used runners to recruit foreign nationals to work as illegal miners and then proceeded to sell the gold-bearing material on the black market. 

Ngobeni appeared before the Welkom Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and will re-appear before the same courthouse on 2 March 2022 for a formal bail application. Ngobeni and company are facing charges related to corruption, illegal mining, and money laundering.

OFM News