Pretoria: 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 R52.5 million held in eight Namibian bank accounts.
According to South African Government News Agency, NPA Mpumalanga Regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa stated that the money is allegedly linked to intentions to commit or proceeds from illegal coal mining in the province’s Carolina area. On 2 December 2024, the SA-FIC, in collaboration with Nam-FIC counterparts, obtained a Namibian FIC temporary freeze on the funds of Jacobus Hosea Jordaan and his wife Elza Jordaan, amounting to R50,205,872. Later, on 30 December 2024, the Nam PG’s office secured a Preservation of Property order in the Namibian High Court in Windhoek, asserting that the money represents the proceeds of illegal activities, including coal mining and money laundering in the Carolina area.
Nyuswa added that a second preservation of property order was granted last week for R2,285,500 concerning two additional Namibian bank accounts in the name of Reinet Binneman, the sister of Elza Jordaan. Jacobus Jordaan and Elza Jordaan are among the primary accused in the Carolina illegal coal mining case, which was moved to the Mbombela High Court on 6 December 2024, with a trial set for November 2025. The illegal financial benefit obtained by the accused from these activities in Mpumalanga allegedly amounts to at least R2 billion.
Nyuswa described the cooperation between the two countries’ law enforcement officials as significant. There was collaboration and effort during the December festive season between Namibian and South African law enforcement agencies to secure the Namibian High Court seizure orders. Both countries were previously grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for not sufficiently combating money laundering. The Namibian seizure orders are expected to assist in efforts to remove both countries from the FATF grey list.
Law enforcement initiated actions as early as November 2023, targeting illegal mining activities in Carolina, resulting in arrests and property seizures. On 15 November 2023, the NPA AFU in Mpumalanga, alongside a special illegal mining unit in the SAPS, obtained a provisional preservation of property order in the Mbombela High Court on assets believed to be instrumentalities used for illegal large-scale coal mining and environmental offences. These assets included a farm, coal stockpiles, and mining machinery. The seizure is considered the largest of its kind in South Africa.
A further provisional restraint of property order was granted against assets valued at R1 billion. Jacobus and Elza Jordaan, along with 15 others, are currently on trial in the Mbombela High Court for multiple offences, including illegal coal mining, environmental offences, theft, corruption, and money laundering. The trial was postponed to the Middelburg High Court for November 2025.
Nyuswa emphasized the prosecutorial body’s commitment to supporting law enforcement in combating criminality. Illegal mining and money laundering in South Africa are significant concerns for the government, highlighted by the State President’s deployment of the South African Defence Force to assist in eradicating illegal mining activities. Illegal mining is viewed as a detriment to South Africa’s natural resources, public finances, and environment. The NPA remains dedicated to assisting national and international efforts to combat these illegal activities.