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Members of the SANDF. (ER Lombard / Gallo images)
Four soldiers have been arrested for conspiracy to commit crimes, fraud, and breaking and entering an illegal mining hotspot near Welkom.
Members of the South African Defense Forces (SANDF) were detained and released in August, before being arrested again on Friday.
The defendants, a colonel, a noncommissioned officer and two corporals, were found on the premises of a privately owned mine on July 6.
“The court subsequently released them based on insufficient evidence,” said Hawks spokesman Capt. Lloyd Ramovha.
However, the Hawks’ investigation continued. It revealed that, at the time of the alleged illegal entry, the group was wearing full military uniforms and was supposed to be on duty at the Pretoria and Kroonstad bases.
“Mainly, what raised suspicions was that one of them had his private firearm with him and they were using a private vehicle with SANDF plates without his license disk,” Ramovha said.
All four are expected to appear in Welkom Magistrates Court on Monday.
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