He is in court accused of trading multi-billion gold

He was arrested in 2015 by the North West-based Serious Organized Crime Squad.

The case against a 47-year-old man accused of illegally mining gold worth billions of rand has been postponed.

Loren Louw appeared before the Brakpan Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Hawks spokesman Colonel Katlego Mogale said Louw was arrested on February 26, 2015 by the North West-based Serious Organized Crime Investigation Unit.

Operation “Tarantula”

“It was reported that Louw was arrested in 2015 during Operation Tarantula, during which R2.5 million worth of rough gold was confiscated. Louw then appeared briefly in court, but the case was withdrawn for further investigation.

“In October 2024, Louw was issued a summons to appear before Brakpan Magistrates on 25 November 2024 on 1,176 counts of money laundering and contravening the Precious Metals Act to the tune of R2.6 billion,” Mogale said.

Mogale said the matter was adjourned to March 17, 2025 in the same court.

Miners come to the surface

Meanwhile, the number of illegal miners who have resurfaced from the Stilfontein mine shafts has risen to 55.

This means that the number of zama zamas that have reappeared since August 18 is 1,259.

North West Community Safety and Transport MEC Wessels Morweng said most of the illegal miners were foreigners.

Arrests

Morweng accompanied by the deputy provincial commissioner for PoliceMajor General Patrick Asaneng briefed the media on the progress made in recent days in rescuing illegal miners.

“Since August 18, after resurfacing, approximately 1,259 zama zam have been arrested. About 871 are Mozambicans, 343 are Zimbabweans, 33 are Lesotho nationals, one is Malawian and only 10 are South Africans.

A special task force appointed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is currently conducting an operation to remove illegal miners from the Stilfontein mine, with the aim of putting an end to the scourge of illegal mining in the country.