The Directorate for Priority Crime investigation, also known as the Hawks, has arrested 42-year-old Kalume Alex Mulimbi and 33-year-old Shannen Shanel Snyman as additional suspects in the case of fraud and money laundering linked to a coltan mineral scam.
Last week, IOL reported that the Hawks 419 Task team had arrested 42-year-old Georgie Maureen Da Lanca for her alleged involvement in the coltan scam - in a move described as a significant breakthrough in the fight against organised crime in Gauteng.
On Tuesday, Gauteng spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela said Mulimbi and Snyman on Monday appeared before the Johannesburg Specialized Commercial Crimes Court sitting at Palm Ridge.
"The pair was arrested in Sandton on Friday, March 14 2025 during an operation led by the 419 Task Team. Their arrest follows that of Georgie Maureen Da Lanca who was arrested on March 10 2025. Da Lanca, also known by the alias Lisa, was apprehended following an investigation into a case that was registered at Sandton police station in November 2022," said Mavimbela.
The case involves a loss of R250,000 suffered by a complainant who the Hawks said was lured into a fraudulent coltan deal by a co-conspirator identified as Tony Bradley.
Columbite-tantalite, known as coltan for short, is a dull black metallic ore that is abundant in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Tantalum, from coltan, is used to manufacture capacitors which are used for mobile phones, computers, automotive electronics, cameras among other gadgets.
"The complainant was persuaded to make payments under the pretence of obtaining a cross-border certificate and activating a code, only to uncover discrepancies that confirmed the scam," said Mavimbela.
"Investigations revealed that the R250,000 deposited by the complainant into an FNB account was subsequently dispersed across three separate accounts, two of which belong to Da Lanca and Snyman. Further inquiries confirmed Da Lanca’s involvement as a key player in a coltan syndicate that has defrauded numerous victims across Johannesburg."
Mavimbela said co-accused in the matter, Tony Bradley, was arrested in November 2022, and was released on R5,000 bail in December 2022.
Da Lanca made her first appearance before the Johannesburg Specialized Commercial Crime Court sitting at Palm Ridge on Wednesday last week. She was remanded in custody and the case was postponed to Wednesday for a formal bail application.
Mulimbi and Snyman made their first appearance before the Johannesburg Specialized Commercial Crime Court sitting at Palm Ridge, where Snyman was granted bail of R5,000.
Mulimbi's bail application was deferred to March 25.
The Hawks' effectual 419 Task Team has been at the heart of investigations and arrests in the rampant cases of romance scams, where countless South African women were defrauded of millions of rand while in love relationships.
Since last year, IOL has been running the scammed series where several women and men have lost their hard-earned money including pensions and bank loans through romance scams. The victims have regrouped and are knocking on different doors, demanding answers.