The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) – working in collaboration with the South African Financial Intelligence Centre (SA-FIC), the Namibian Financial Intelligence Centre (Nam-FIC) and the Namibian Prosecutor-General (Nam PG) office has seized some R52.5 million held in eight Namibian bank accounts.
NPA Mpumalanga Regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said the money is allegedly linked to intentions to commit or proceeds from “massive alleged illegal coal mining” in the province’s Carolina area.
“On 2 December 2024 the SA-FIC, in collaboration with their Nam-FIC counterparts, obtained a Namibian FIC temporary freeze upon the funds of Jacobus Hosea Jordaan and his wife Elza Jordaan… to the value of R50 205 872.
“On 30 December 2024 the Nam PG’s office managed to obtain a Preservation of Property order in the Namibian High Court, Windhoek in respect of the abovementioned R50 205 872 on the basis that the money… represents the proceeds of, and/or was used as instrumentalities, to commit the abovementioned massive alleged illegal coal mining and other offences, including money laundering in the Carolina area,” she said.
Nyuswa added that last week, a second preservation of property order was granted to the value of R2 285 500 in the Namibian High Court “in respect of two further Namibian bank accounts in the name of Reinet Binneman," the sister of Elza Jordaan.
“Jacobus Jordaan and his wife Elza Jordaan are among the main accused in the Carolina illegal coal mining case that was transferred to the Mbombela High Court on 6 December 2024 to November 2025 for trial.
“The illegal financial benefit obtained by the accused from the illegal coal mining and other offences in Mpumalanga allegedly amounts to at least R2 billion,” Nyuswa explained.
She described cooperation between the two countries’ law enforcement officials as “remarkable”.
“There was remarkable cooperation and hard work during the December festive season between the abovementioned Namibian and the South African law enforcement agencies to obtain the abovementioned Namibian High Court seizure orders.
“Both Namibia and South Africa were grey listed a few years ago by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for, amongst others, failing to sufficiently combat money laundering. The abovementioned two Namibian seizure orders will assist enormously in getting both countries off the FATF grey list,” she said.
The dedication, enthusiasm and commitment of the abovementioned law enforcement agencies also make a huge difference in combating transnational crime in the two countries.
Digging in
Nyuswa said that as early as November 2023, police and law enforcement had already pounced on alleged illegal mining activities in the Carolina – leading to arrests and seizures of property.
“On 15 November 2023 the NPA AFU in Mpumalanga, in collaboration with a special illegal mining unit in the [SAPS], obtained provisional preservation of property order in the Mbombela High Court upon, amongst others, a farm in the Carolina district, stockpiles/heaps of coal in two separate areas, heavy duty mining machinery, equipment and motor vehicles as well as the washing plant machinery and all movable buildings, machines, equipment and motor vehicles used at Droog Valley farm Barrel Coal Processing and Washing Plant near Carolina, Mpumalanga area.
“The assets were seized on the basis that it was, on reasonable grounds, believed to be, used as instrumentalities to commit various illegal large-scale coal mining and environmental offences at the farm in the Carolina area, and/or that the assets are reasonable grounds to believe the proceeds of unlawful activities, and/or represents the proceeds of unlawful activities, namely the large-scale illegal coal mining and environmental offences.
“It was the largest seizure of its kind ever in South Africa,” Nyuswa said.
A further provisional restraint of property order was granted to law enforcement against assets to the value of some R1 billion.
“Jacobus and his wife, Elza Jordaan, and 15 other persons and companies are currently standing trial in the Mbombela High Court for multiple offences, Including illegal coal mining, environmental offences, theft, corruption, money laundering etc.
“Their criminal trial was postponed to the Middelburg High Court for trial from 3 to 28 November 2025,” she added.
The spokesperson said the prosecutorial body remains committed to supporting the work of law enforcement agencies in rooting out criminality.
“Illegal mining activities, coupled with money laundering, in South Africa, are a huge concern for the government, as also pronounced by the State President who last year deployed the South African Defence Force to assist the SAPS in eradicating the illegal mining activities and syndicates.
“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. It also destroys the beautiful South African natural environment and bona fide farming activities.
“The NPA is committed to assisting the SAPS, the South African government, and governments of foreign jurisdictions to eradicate this scourge of illegal mining and money laundering activities,” Nyuswa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
