A SENIOR policeman yesterday explained to the Bloemfontein High Court how gold smugglers operated.
Captain Daniel Meyer said in 2002 he was a member of the national task team responsible for countering gold and diamond smuggling.
He said the unit had identified Welkom, Rustenburg, Klerksdorp and Johannesburg as areas where smuggling was active.
The unit divided the syndicate into five categories. Level one involved mine employees who were stealing unprocessed gold from the mines. Level two involved people who bought from level one.
Level three were buyers from level two. Level four bought from level three and sold it internationally. Lastly, level five were international clients.
Meyer said level four grouping was found mainly in Vereeniging, Ekurhuleni and central Johannesburg.
"We got information about a syndicate operated by the Naidoos, a father and son operating in Walkerville in the Vaal. We also received information about names, especially Sibusiso Msimango, who supplied them with gold."
He said in 2002 they were told that unprocessed gold was on the way to the Naidoos.
"We later stopped a car. In the car were Msimango and Krezen Rangasamy. We searched the car and found two cellphones in each of them. Msimango had R2200 in cash and Rangasamy was carrying a voice recorder."
The police went with the men back to the house where they found four pieces of gold wrapped in a black plastic.
Msimango, his brothers Rise and MacDonald, together with Promise Bita, Patrick Moahloli, Christian Lunga, Clement Nkhi, Bulelwa Somhlalo, Sylvester Mahamo, Sicelosenkosi Mthimkulu, Meshack Sithole, Adoons Knight Bita, Tshediso Ramabele, Charles and Lucky Sithole, Seatile Khabe and Moroesi Msimango have all pleaded not guilty to more than 100 charges, including possession of gold, dealing in gold, theft of gold, racketeering and money laundering.
The Msimangos are alleged to be the masterminds and ringleaders of the syndicate.
The men were running the alleged gold syndicate between 1998 and 2008. The trial continues. - ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za
How Zama Zamas operated
A SENIOR policeman yesterday explained to the Bloemfontein High Court how gold smugglers operated.
Captain Daniel Meyer said in 2002 he was a member of the national task team responsible for countering gold and diamond smuggling.
He said the unit had identified Welkom, Rustenburg, Klerksdorp and Johannesburg as areas where smuggling was active.
The unit divided the syndicate into five categories. Level one involved mine employees who were stealing unprocessed gold from the mines. Level two involved people who bought from level one.
Level three were buyers from level two. Level four bought from level three and sold it internationally. Lastly, level five were international clients.
Meyer said level four grouping was found mainly in Vereeniging, Ekurhuleni and central Johannesburg.
"We got information about a syndicate operated by the Naidoos, a father and son operating in Walkerville in the Vaal. We also received information about names, especially Sibusiso Msimango, who supplied them with gold."
He said in 2002 they were told that unprocessed gold was on the way to the Naidoos.
"We later stopped a car. In the car were Msimango and Krezen Rangasamy. We searched the car and found two cellphones in each of them. Msimango had R2200 in cash and Rangasamy was carrying a voice recorder."
The police went with the men back to the house where they found four pieces of gold wrapped in a black plastic.
Msimango, his brothers Rise and MacDonald, together with Promise Bita, Patrick Moahloli, Christian Lunga, Clement Nkhi, Bulelwa Somhlalo, Sylvester Mahamo, Sicelosenkosi Mthimkulu, Meshack Sithole, Adoons Knight Bita, Tshediso Ramabele, Charles and Lucky Sithole, Seatile Khabe and Moroesi Msimango have all pleaded not guilty to more than 100 charges, including possession of gold, dealing in gold, theft of gold, racketeering and money laundering.
The Msimangos are alleged to be the masterminds and ringleaders of the syndicate.
The men were running the alleged gold syndicate between 1998 and 2008. The trial continues. - ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za
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