Four foreign nationals were detained in Mpumalanga after police recovered unwrought gold valued at about R800,000 during a patrol along the N12 near Delmas.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the provincial police spokesperson, a multidisciplinary team was conducting routine surveillance beneath a bridge at the Delmas off-ramp when they spotted a white Toyota Fortuner with no registration plates on either side. After stopping and searching the vehicle, officers found unwrought gold — a raw form not yet refined, smelted, or fashioned into jewellery, coins, or bars — concealed inside a white plastic bag.
Three Mozambican men, aged between 24 and 34, were arrested at the scene on charges of possessing unwrought gold and for lacking valid documentation to stay in South Africa.
Unwrought gold is typically raw or semi-processed and is regulated in South Africa due to its connections with illegal mining and the illicit precious metals trade. Possessing, transporting, or trading unwrought gold without the required permits constitutes a criminal offence.
While the suspects were being processed at the Delmas police station around 2 a.m., a 27-year-old Zimbabwean national allegedly approached an officer and offered a R5,000 bribe to secure the release of the three men, claiming they were his brothers. The Zimbabwean was promptly arrested and charged with bribing a police officer.
All four suspects are slated to appear in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on 15 December 2025, facing the relevant charges.
Acting Mpumalanga provincial police commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi praised the officers for their vigilance and dedication. He stated that the operation’s success underscores the police’s commitment to preventing and tackling crime and urged community members to report information about criminal activity to help ensure a safer environment during the festive season.
Anyone with information about crime is encouraged to contact the police at [email address].
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