By REGINALD KANYANE
28 August 2026 – The Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation and the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) secured a preservation order valued at R5 million linked to a theft of platinum in Rustenburg. The preservation order granted by the North West High Court, emanates from a case in which six suspects were arrested in Rustenburg and Brits by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation in August 2024, for alleged dealing in platinum and possession of platinum valued at R350 million.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula said: “Their arrest followed a lengthy investigation after a tip-off received about alleged theft of platinum from a mine in Rustenburg and was then transported to Brits.
“The preservation order include a portion of land in Rustenburg and 20 vehicles belonging to one of the suspects.”
Meanwhile, the North West Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and the Director of Public Prosecutions in the North West, Dr Rachel Makhari have commended the efforts of the Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation and National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit in securing the preservation order.
The Guardian 