What led to the arrest of mining executive Johan van Vuuren for R70 million fraud?
Johan van Vuuren, 49, the former executive manager at Heaven Sent Gold Group SA, appeared in the Orkney Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 22 January 2026, facing charges of fraud and theft amounting to R70 million.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, announced that Van Vuuren was arrested on Thursday morning by members of the Klerksdorp-based Serious Corruption Investigation unit.
According to the Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula, between 2020 and 2022, while serving as executive manager, Van Vuuren allegedly bypassed supply chain processes and awarded contracts to two mining companies without board approval — one valued at over R50 million and the other at R20 million.
“One company was allegedly awarded over R50 million contract, and the other was awarded R20 million. These contracts were allegedly entered into without the consent of the Heaven Sent board,” said Mathebula.
“It was revealed during the investigation that the accused had interests in a company that he had awarded the R20 million contract. Further investigation uncovered that the company that was awarded the R50 million contract made payments to companies that have family ties to the accused.”
Van Vuuren was granted bail of R20 000, and his case has been postponed to 17 April 2026 for further investigation.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
IOL News