News24 | Assets worth over R12.1m seized from alleged zama zama mining kingpins

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria preserved over R12 million in properties and vehicles linked to alleged zama zama syndicate members Chimene Mlambo, Elias Christopher Ngobeni, Nason Ngobeni and Alex Sithole.

• The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria granted a preservation order targeting properties and luxury vehicles belonging to four alleged zama-zama mining syndicate members.
• Chimene Mlambo owns the majority of preserved assets, worth R11.34 million, including a R3.8-million farm in Putfontein, Benoni.
• The Asset Forfeiture Unit seized 19 properties and 38 vehicles.

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has granted the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) a preservation order valued at over R12.1 million, targeting an extensive network of properties and luxury vehicles belonging to people linked to a zama zama mining syndicate.

According to a joint statement by the AFU and Hawks, the preservation order covers assets belonging to Chimene Mlambo, Elias Christopher Ngobeni, Nason Ngobeni, and Alex Sithole, who are currently appearing before the same court on charges related to illegal mining operations.

The preservation order targeted 19 immovable properties, collectively worth R12.1 million, as well as 38 movable assets, including luxury vehicles, trailers, and commercial vehicles.

Some assets belong to Shallwin (Pty) Ltd, a company owned by Nason Ngobeni, indicating the alleged syndicate’s use of corporate structures to hide proceeds.

The most significant properties targeted belong to Mlambo, whose preserved properties are valued at R11.34 million.

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The most expensive property in the preservation order is a R3.8-million farm in the sought-after agricultural area of Putfontein, in the East Rand area of Benoni. This is followed by another Benoni property worth R1.55 million, Crystal Park, and a R980 000 property in Potchefstroom, North West.

Mlambo’s property portfolio includes holdings in Benoni, Potchefstroom, Westonaria, Carletonville and Parys.

The Ngobeni brothers own properties in Orange Farm, Evaton West, Welkom, and surrounding areas, with Elias Ngobeni’s most valuable asset being a R350 000 property in Riebeeckstad, Welkom.

Elias’ holdings total R460 000 in two properties, plus two vehicles, while his brother, Nason, owns assets worth R315 000 across three properties and seven vehicles, including luxury cars.

Alex Sithole has no property but owns six vehicles, and Shallwin, Nason’s company, has two additional vehicles, bringing the total preservation order to R12.1 million.

Among the vehicles seized are a fleet of luxury cars, including a Mercedes-Benz and a BMW 3 Series belonging to Nason, as well as a Volkswagen Scirocco.

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Multiple Toyota Hilux bakkies were also preserved across all the accused. Alex Sithole’s vehicle collection includes Toyota Hilux bakkies, a Toyota Corolla, a Honda Ballade, and a Mitsubishi Colt.

The AFU and Hawks stated that investigations continue to track outstanding vehicles that were not recovered during the execution of the order.

They said:

According to the statement, the AFU is set to apply for a final forfeiture order.

“Once granted, the preserved properties will be sold and proceeds deposited into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account, ensuring illegal mining profits are returned to the State.

“The NPA and DPCI (Hawks) welcome this preservation order, which sends a strong message that individuals will not be permitted to benefit unlawfully from criminal conduct or defraud the government.”