Namibian court freezes R52m linked to alleged illegal coal mine in Mpumalanga
South African and Namibian authorities have collaborated to freeze R52 million in 10 bank accounts linked to an alleged "massive illegal coal mining" scheme in Carolina, Mpumalanga.
The frozen funds are tied to what the State has called one of the largest unlawful coal mining operations it has yet uncovered.
"Illegal mining activities, coupled with money laundering, [...] are a huge concern for the government," said Monica Nyuswa, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson for Mpumalanga.
"Illegal mining amounts to the plundering of the most valuable natural resources of South Africa to the detriment of the fiscus and the broader public."
'Remarkable cooperation'
Nyuswa said the Namibian High Court in Windhoek froze the funds following close collaboration between South African and Namibian authorities.
"There was remarkable cooperation and hard work during the December festive season," she said.
On 30 December, about R50 million was frozen in eight Namibian bank accounts in the names of Jacobus Jordaan and his wife, Elza. The Jordaans are South African citizens with ties to Namibia, including financial trusts and a farm in Aranos in the east of the country.
Two weeks later – on 14 January – the Namibian Prosecutor-General won a second preservation order worth R2.2 million in two accounts. This money was in the account of Reinet Binneman, who is Elza Jordaan's sister.
The freezing orders came after SA asked Namibia for help tracking down assets linked to an alleged illegal coal mine in Mpumalanga.
In late 2023, the Asset Forfeiture Unit seized mining equipment, a farm, heavy-duty machinery and stockpiles of coal linked to Jacobus Jordaan's company, GNJ Mining.
At the time, the NPA estimated the value of the frozen assets at R1.5 billion, saying they were linked to "large-scale illegal coal mining and environmental offences" at the farm Witkranz in the Carolina district of Mpumalanga.
Police first raided Witkranz in September 2023, where they "saw the magnitude of the illegal coal mining operation", the NPA said in 2023. The coal mined at Witkranz was allegedly transported to a nearby coal processing and washing plant before being sold to end-users that included sugar mills and a car tyre manufacturer.
Lack of authorisation
The NPA previously said that GNJ Mining never had lawful authorisation from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy or the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs to mine coal at the farm.
Jordaan tried to fight the seizure in 2023, bringing two high court applications to have the seized assets returned to him. Both were unsuccessful.
The NPA estimated that approximately 270 000 tonnes of coal were illegally mined at the farm between November 2021 and September 2023.
"At a minimum estimated market value price of R980 per tonne, the estimated 270 000 tonnes that were illegally mined amounted to about R264 million worth of coal," it said.
Jordaan was arrested on 23 October 2023 at Carolina and appeared the same day in the local magistrates’ court, where he was granted bail of R2 000.
Other suspects in the case include Paul Boshoff, said to be the manager of the illegal mine, who was also released on bail. Elza Jordaan is also named in the State's case.
The criminal trial of the Jordaans, Boshoff and 14 other people and companies is set to begin in the Middelburg High Court in early November.
-NEWS24
The frozen funds are tied to what the State has called one of the largest unlawful coal mining operations it has yet uncovered.
"Illegal mining activities, coupled with money laundering, [...] are a huge concern for the government," said Monica Nyuswa, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson for Mpumalanga.
"Illegal mining amounts to the plundering of the most valuable natural resources of South Africa to the detriment of the fiscus and the broader public."
'Remarkable cooperation'
Nyuswa said the Namibian High Court in Windhoek froze the funds following close collaboration between South African and Namibian authorities.
"There was remarkable cooperation and hard work during the December festive season," she said.
On 30 December, about R50 million was frozen in eight Namibian bank accounts in the names of Jacobus Jordaan and his wife, Elza. The Jordaans are South African citizens with ties to Namibia, including financial trusts and a farm in Aranos in the east of the country.
Two weeks later – on 14 January – the Namibian Prosecutor-General won a second preservation order worth R2.2 million in two accounts. This money was in the account of Reinet Binneman, who is Elza Jordaan's sister.
The freezing orders came after SA asked Namibia for help tracking down assets linked to an alleged illegal coal mine in Mpumalanga.
In late 2023, the Asset Forfeiture Unit seized mining equipment, a farm, heavy-duty machinery and stockpiles of coal linked to Jacobus Jordaan's company, GNJ Mining.
At the time, the NPA estimated the value of the frozen assets at R1.5 billion, saying they were linked to "large-scale illegal coal mining and environmental offences" at the farm Witkranz in the Carolina district of Mpumalanga.
Police first raided Witkranz in September 2023, where they "saw the magnitude of the illegal coal mining operation", the NPA said in 2023. The coal mined at Witkranz was allegedly transported to a nearby coal processing and washing plant before being sold to end-users that included sugar mills and a car tyre manufacturer.
Lack of authorisation
The NPA previously said that GNJ Mining never had lawful authorisation from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy or the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs to mine coal at the farm.
Jordaan tried to fight the seizure in 2023, bringing two high court applications to have the seized assets returned to him. Both were unsuccessful.
The NPA estimated that approximately 270 000 tonnes of coal were illegally mined at the farm between November 2021 and September 2023.
"At a minimum estimated market value price of R980 per tonne, the estimated 270 000 tonnes that were illegally mined amounted to about R264 million worth of coal," it said.
Jordaan was arrested on 23 October 2023 at Carolina and appeared the same day in the local magistrates’ court, where he was granted bail of R2 000.
Other suspects in the case include Paul Boshoff, said to be the manager of the illegal mine, who was also released on bail. Elza Jordaan is also named in the State's case.
The criminal trial of the Jordaans, Boshoff and 14 other people and companies is set to begin in the Middelburg High Court in early November.
-NEWS24
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