State freezes assets of 8 millionaire miners

MICHAEL Velly Mavundla did not just strike it lucky when he landed himself a job as a miner - he apparently struck gold.

By last year his assets included several luxury cars and properties worth more than R1.2-million, despite him earning a meagre R2000 a month.

Mavundla is one of a group of eight former miners at Kloof Mine in Westonaria who accumulated millions of rands worth of properties, luxury cars, firearms and money market accounts by allegedly smuggling gold out of the mine.

A Mercedes-Benz ML 430, a Mitsubishi Pajero, an Isuzu bakkie and a Mazda Etude all registered in the name of Mavundla's wife, Deliwe, as well as five properties in Hazyview, Nelspruit have been frozen in terms of a High Court order as the alleged proceeds of crime.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) obtained an order preventing Mavundla and his seven former colleagues from selling any of their assets pending the outcome of a criminal case against them.

The eight men are facing charges of theft, two counts of murder and two of conspiracy to murder, in the Johannesburg High Court.

They have all pleaded not guilty in the case, which resumes on October 17.

Mavundla and his seven former colleagues are alleged to have paid a hit man R50000 to kill two mine managers who implemented tighter security at the mine.

Wally Snyman was killed in October 1997 and Steve Bruce in June 1999.

Mavundla is believed to have been the leader of a gang, known as "the Relining Gang". They allegedly stored gold concentrate in socks which they concealed by strapping them to their bodies and smuggled them out of the mine to be refined.

While they hung on to their gumboots, the eight miners built up an empire among them worth more than R5-million.

One of the men, Bhekithemba Zungu owned two properties in Bekkersdal in Westonaria and two in Newcastle. The NPA, in support of its application for the preservation order, also said that he had transferred amounts of R20000, R80000 and R100000 towards the properties - all while he was a miner earning R2494.49 a month.

Zungu is also alleged to have splashed out on 10 vehicles between 1996 and 1998.

The assets of the other seven on trial were also frozen and include:

.Mositisi Rakgomo's two houses in Westonaria, eight vehicles, a money market account valued at R120000 and a bank account with a balance of R5000;

.Nkosentsha Mtshakazana's house in Westonaria and another in Lady Frere, a Mercedes 220E, an AMC Bus, a Mazda Marathon and a Toyota Hi-Ace;

.Ruben Sebento's house in Lichtenburg, four vehicles, a 9mm pistol, two bank accounts and an insurance policy; and

.The homes and cars of Robert Mohlatsane and Tebogo Joseph Tshenyoethata.