An investigation into illicit gold mining has revealed significant details about one of the accused, Leon Magwaca, whose real identity is James Sigauke. According to the investigation, Magwaca obtained a fraudulent identity document 12 years after arriving in South Africa. This document, issued at the home affairs office in Carletonville in 2015, falsely identified him as the son of a Western Cape woman, allegedly without her knowledge.
Magwaca, who is currently facing charges in the Pretoria High Court, is accused of being the second-in-command to Bethuel Ngobeni, the alleged kingpin of a gold mining syndicate. Magwaca is said to have facilitated illicit transactions and participated in four gold deals totaling R652,000.
The home affairs officer investigating the case discovered that Magwaca used a fictitious identity to secure a South African ID. The fake identity was registered with the population register, making him appear as the child of a woman named Nobongile Magwaca from Daveyton, Ekurhuleni. However, investigations revealed that no such woman was found at the given address, and a search in the population register turned up no credible leads.
In a later statement, Magwaca admitted that he was originally from Chipinge, Zimbabwe and that his real mother is Linah Sigauke, who resides in Zimbabwe. The Home Affairs Department issued a notice of intention to cancel his South African ID in 2022.
Magwaca allegedly used his fraudulent identity to amass significant assets for the syndicate. According to the State, he used his bank accounts to facilitate the purchase of several high-value vehicles, including an R712,000 VW Golf 7R, an R70,000 Renault Clio, and an R310,000 Toyota Hino truck. These vehicles were registered under his wife Neo Susan Duba’s name. In March, the Asset Forfeiture Unit seized 51 vehicles, seven houses, and 16 bank accounts linked to the syndicate members.
Magwaca and his co-accused, including Lerato Bathebeng, Poppy Mathongwane, Dumisani Moyo, Duba, Moseki Sechele, Thabo Sechele, and Kudzai Mashaya, are set to appear in court for a pre-trial hearing. Their trial is scheduled to begin in February 2025. Both the State and the defense will meet in November to finalize trial logistics, which are expected to span six weeks.
The Department of Home Affairs has issued a warning that nearly 700,000 identity documents are at risk of cancellation unless the holders can provide valid reasons for their continued validity. This move is part of a broader effort to combat fraud related to identity documents. The investigation into Magwaca’s case highlights the extensive impact of fraudulent identity documents and their role in facilitating large-scale criminal activities.
In other news – Sérgio Mendes pioneering Brazilian musician, dies at 83
Sérgio Mendes, the acclaimed Brazilian-born musician renowned for popularizing bossa nova music worldwide, passed away on September 5, 2024, in a Los Angeles hospital. He was 83. His death was attributed to the long-term effects of Covid-19, as confirmed by a statement from his family posted on social media.
Mendes, celebrated for his vibrant and influential music career spanning six decades, is best known for his groundbreaking work in the 1960s with the group Brasil ’66. Read More
