Tebogo Msimanga |
The Randfontein Regional court granted two accused Pierre Coetzer (60) and Pieter Venter (50) R5 000 bail each. The pair is charged with contravention of the Second-Hand Goods Act and contravention of the National Environmental Act.
Coetzer and Venter are the owners of P&P Commodities. They handed themselves in at the Hawks’ office in Krugersdorp on Wednesday where they were subsequently charged.
Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu of Gauteng Hawks said their arrests comes after an employee, Vernon Michael van der Mescht (56) was arrested last month at their business premises where a truck loaded with copper blisters was impounded by authorities during a multi-disciplinary operation in Randfontein.
“Authorities conducted an operation in November last year which emanated from information received on allegations that a copper manufacturing company, P&P Commodities in Randfontein was operating and melting copper without any of the second-hand goods permit, foundry/refinery license, combustion license or any other environmental permit or licenses.”
Mulamu added that the investigation team confiscated 42 copper blisters worth approximately R4.6 million for further investigation.
“The business was successfully closed down and copper operations were halted pending their approval for any valid environmental permit or license application”.
