A 49-year-old man was arrested on charges of money laundering after authorities discovered R1.2 million in his house in Tonga, near Komatipoort, on Sunday, March 16, 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, a spokesperson for Mpumalanga Provincial Police, said the arrest came after a tip-off regarding the suspect allegedly possessing an unlicensed firearm. Police officers acted swiftly, conducting a search of the property, where they found the large sum of money hidden under a bed, in a wardrobe, and in several bags in other rooms.
During the search, the man attempted to bribe the officers with R50,000, but his efforts were unsuccessful. The money found included both South African and Mozambican currency. It has been seized by the police and will be used as evidence in the investigation.
The suspect is facing multiple charges, including money laundering, bribery, violation of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, and breaching the Tax Administration Act. He is expected to appear before the Nkomazi Magistrate’s Court in Tonga soon.
Further investigation revealed that the man’s company is involved in clearing commercial goods, raising questions about the origin of the money.
Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi praised the officers involved in Operation Vala Umgodi for their outstanding work in the region.
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