News24 reports that seven people have been arrested, and 23 cars seized, for allegedly using their businesses to launder proceeds from illegal mining in the Free State.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Christopher Singo said that the group, aged between 28 and 55, had been arrested in the early hours of Monday. "Their arrests were effected during the termination of a project-driven investigation led by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team in the Free State. The project investigation began in July 2018, aimed at disrupting and dismantling the identified threat of illicit mining in Welkom and Thabong areas," he advised. Singo went on to add: "It is alleged that these syndicate members are owners of various businesses that are operating legally, and generate some income. However, those companies are allegedly used to launder large amounts of money through their illegal mining business activities. Moreover, they allegedly use runners to illegally recruit foreign nationals to work as zama zamas, and then obtain the gold-bearing material and sell it to illegal gold buyers." Two firearms, gas bottles, an undisclosed amount of money, as well as the cars, with an estimated value of R5 million were seized during the operation. The group have been charged with illegal mining, money laundering, theft and corruption, and are due to appear in court soon.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lwandile Bhengu at News24

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