By OBAKENG MAJE

Three men were arrested for being in possession of unwrought gold bearing material. Gideon Gaotingwe Mangope (57) , Mahlatse Manyaka,( 32) and Monnaotsile Christop Lebuowane (38) briefly appeared in the Tlhabane Magistrate’s Court on 15 January 2024.

The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Warrant Officer Amogelang Malwetse said, on 11 January 2024, the Rustenburg-based Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit in collaboration with Bidvest Security received a tip-off regarding the suspects, who were alleged to be busy washing platinum bearing material at the Impala Minpro Processing Plant.

Malwetse further said when the police arrived at the scene, they found three suspects busy washing the platinum bearing material inside the batching stations at the floaters, where spillage overflowed. She added that, the suspects fled the scene when they spotted the police.

“However, the police gave chase and arrested them. Eleven bags containing unwrought gold bearing material were found and seized. The trio was subsequently charged with possession of unwrought gold bearing material. They have been remanded in custody and the case was postponed to 19 January 2024,” she said.

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