A 40-year-old Barberton-based pastor and a 37-year-old man were arrested after police caught them in possession of gold-bearing material (GBM) on the R38 Road in Mpumalanga.

According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, authorities received a tip-off about a suspicious silver vehicle transporting illegal gold. Officers quickly acted, stopping the car and conducting a thorough search. Inside, they found approximately 60 grams of GBM, estimated to be worth R60,000, along with R9,200 in cash. The vehicle was seized as part of the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, during routine patrols on the R40 and R38 Roads, law enforcement officials apprehended two Zimbabwean nationals, aged 25 and 27, who were in South Africa without valid documentation. They were arrested for contravening the Immigration Act.

Authorities also conducted disruptive operations in Verulam Village, where they discovered two abandoned gas cylinders, which were confiscated for further investigation.

All four suspects are expected to appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of possession of GBM and immigration violations.

Police have urged residents to report illegal mining activities as they continue to crack down on illicit gold trading in the region.