Zim illegal mining kingpin a flight risk: SA prose...

Zim illegal mining kingpin a flight risk: SA prosecutors

The alleged illegal mining kingpins have been proven to be foreign nationals

Prosecutors at Oberholzer Magistrate’s Court in Carletonville, South Africa have argued that Zimbabwe’s illegal mining kingpin Dumisa Eric Moyo should not be granted bail because he is a “persona non grata” and hence a flight risk.

Prosecutor, Tholoane Sehonyana was disputing pleas for bail by defence advocate Jurg Huysamen.

“The onus is on the accused to convince the court to release him on bail. His charges are prevalent in the country. He gave false information to Home Affairs officials.

“There are no records of him attending two schools in Thabong, where he claimed he attended. He didn’t produce report cards, confirming that he attended those two schools. Bongani Hospital, where he claimed he was born in 1987, was officially opened in 1993. He is a person (sic) non grata.”

Moyo is one of a group of alleged illegal mining kingpins arrested in a raid recently. They stand accused of sponsoring illegal mining activities as they are the ones who go around buying the products from the illegal miners.

Sekhonyana added that Moyo had failed to convince the court that he was born in Welkom.

“We know he has a passport. He has access to neighbouring countries. He is a flight risk. The offences levelled against him are serious. He frequents Zimbabwe. He will never return to South Africa should he be granted bail,” Sekhonyana argued, pleading with the court to consider the country’s interests.

The prosecutor added that illegal mining was crippling South Africa’s economy.

Department of Home Affairs immigration officer Mothusi Letsohgo maintained that Moyo was a Zimbabwean, not South African, claiming that his investigations revealed that Moyo’s father was Zimbabwean and he married a South African woman in 2015.

Letsoto added that Moremaphofu Primary School, Lephola Secondary School as well as Bongani Hospital had said they did not have any records for Moyo.

Huysamen maintained that Moyo was a Zimbabwean on whom many depended. “He is a married father. His citizenship is not in doubt. He is a businessman who employs seven people. He has people dependent on him. If he were detained, it would be a catastrophe. He has no pending cases, previous convictions, nor an outstanding warrant of arrest,” he argued, adding that Moyo had nothing illegal in his possession when he was arrested.