Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) pays annual taxes of R1bn and estimates its economic impact at R8bn a year, with R1.5bn going to local businesses in 2021.
A Richards Bay Minerals floating dredger sucks heavy minerals from coastal sand dunes in northern Richards Bay.
Mkhize was shot dead by police in September 2023, but his legacy still looms large in a tale of murder, grand-scale theft, extortion and claims of police corruption – a tale of a “resource curse” centred on Richards Bay that has already claimed at least 18 lives. This huge pot of cash exercises an extraordinary pull on good and bad actors in the surrounding community, as well as their political and criminal overlords.
In October 2018, Duvenhage was appointed MD and began confronting the volatile strands of violence, vested interests and corruption the company was enmeshed in.In 2018, RBM’s operations were halted twice following violent protests by contractors. In 2019 the company was again forced to suspend activities following the shooting of one of its employees.
RBM wants to remove Amakhosi and their immediate families as beneficiaries and create boards of independent trustees jointly appointed by traditional councils and the company.The four host tribes opposed RBM in court . In January 2010, Sibusiso was dethroned in a process facilitated by the provincial government under the then-premier Zweli Mkhize.Sibusiso took the matter to the High Court but died in 2012.
There were various court processes leading up to 2018 around Sithembile’s right to act on her late husband’s behalf.supported her right to pursue a review of the premier’s original decision to withdraw her late husband’s appointment.After the Constitutional Court decision, the ANC provincial government, then led by Sihle Zikalala, attempted to mediate, but the violence continued.
When RBM was forced by the DMRE to release withheld funds to the trusts in August 2021, the Mbonambi Community Public Benefit Trust, chaired by Martin, paid him out nearly R1-million in “travel costs” the day after the money landed in its account. The deposed chief’s widow Sithembile says Martin has not been seen by the community since 2022. “He hasn’t been there. I have no idea what has happened to the money. My late husband set up the trust in 2009. In January 2010, he was dethroned because some people wanted to hit the jackpot.How did Martin Mbuyazi come to be appointed administrator?
Martin is said to have been adopted by the Mbonambi tribe and later worked with former KZN premier Willies Mchunu. Mbuyazi is still listed as a director of Gudlulwandle Investments and Siyaqhubeka Forests. Gudlulwandle owns 5.4% of Siyaqhubeka, an investment that appears to have paid off handsomely. Forestry-related land claims worth more than R200-million wereDespite the rumoured threats against him – and despite the formal recognition of Inkosi Mkhanyiseni – Martin remained sufficiently influential to be authorised by all four tribal trusts to oppose RBM’s efforts to reform the trusts.
The family member said ANC figures had forced government interference in the traditional leadership dispute in order to get their hands on the money. In February 2024, Foskor procurement manager Sifiso Mncube was shot dead while driving home after work. Gunmen pumped 25 AK-47 rounds into his car.In May 2021, Nico Swart, RBM general manager, was shot dead.In December 2019, tribal leader Induna Meshack Mbuyazi was shot dead.
He is representative of a breed of criminals who flourish under political cover and exercise considerable clout. But the two fell out over a woman, and because Mkhize wanted to extend his taxi interests. This only emerged in 2021 after police set up a specialised task team to probe the RBM murders.A businessman who crossed him years ago said this in response to inquiries: “I’m sorry, I don’t want to talk about him, even off the record. I don’t want to utter his name. He cost my business and my family so much. I don’t want to think about him or the people he worked with. They are still out there.
Their profile report, seen by amaBhungane, said Mkhize initially became prominent in Richards Bay through his association with members of the Mbuyazi family from the Mbonambi tribe.The profile report linked Mkhize to the murders of Ronny Nzimande, Meshack Mbuyazi, Nico Swart and – after their fallout – Judia Mbuyazi himself.The report also said that Mkhize’s own security was provided by a company that protected the Nhlabane Taxi Association, which operates routes around RBM.
Nkululeko Mkhize’s father, Mfihleleni Mkhize, worked for two Gcaba-linked bus companies: Tasnat and Masithembe. In Zululand, Mkhize was known for his opulent lifestyle, but only after the shooting did reports of his involvement in “tender mafia” activities surface widely.The day before, on 19 September, Mkhize and Cele assassinated drug rivals in a shootout outside a shopping centre in Richards Bay, 135km away.Police sources said that two of the five killed in Richards Bay were drug dealers and rivals of Mkhize and Cele. The others were innocent bystanders.
But a local security company disputed his version. The post-mortem report and CCTV footage contradicted Mkhize’s self-defence story. Later, a security guard on duty the night of the Lekos murder and two men who accompanied Mkhize were shot dead in separate incidents, eliminating potential witnesses against him.
They learnt about Mkhize’s links with Judia Mbuyazi, how Mkhize’s power had grown and how the men fell out over business and a mutual love interest. Investigators were allegedly promised damning information about Mkhize from a forum member active around RBM. AmaBhungane was reliably informed that on 19 December 2023, a complaint relating to defeating the ends of justice was opened in Richards Bay. Notes in the complaint file refer to task-team leader Zulu getting a call from Mkhwanazi demanding the handover of dockets.
A source linked to RBM described the three men as “a significant force” in the Kwambonambi Business Forum. Stolen minerals are exported, requiring a multi-layered network of players, including truckers, corrupt port and customs officials, freight forwarding companies and companies that sell the stolen product offshore.
But the detailed accounting available for the R18-million paid out on 25 August 2021 to the Mbonambi trust is perhaps partially instructive. Two years later, Dlamini appeared as co-director in two companies with Martin Mbuyazi’s wife, Palesa. The Ubunye local empowerment deal launched with fanfare in 2015 also seems to have run into problems.that “effective 30 November 2021, USCS acquired a minority 30% non-controlling interest in Ubunye Mining Services Proprietary Limited for a consideration of R20-million”.
This was one of several premises raided by sheriffs under civil “Anton Piller” searches, enabling the confiscation and preservation of samples for later use in court.Various questions also arise about potential links between the companies whose premises were raided by the court sheriff. At the time, police said that since the establishment of the Richards Bay task team, 43 suspects had been arrested for charges ranging from murder, theft, trespassing and possession of suspected stolen property to unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, fraud and intimidation. Police said 68 dockets were under investigation; 47 of these cases were in court and 202 guns had been confiscated.In July last year, Duvenhage told the Sunday Times that theft was down 80% in four months.
He also stressed that the safety of his executives was paramount.“The majority of the senior leaders at RBM travel to work in armoured vehicles with close protection officers. Until we have dealt with this situation we just don’t know.”with communities. At the RBM Open Day in April, his speech emphasised the need to mobilise the community’s support behind the retention of the Zulti South Project.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Richards Bay beat SuperSport to ex-Downs strikerRichards Bay beat SuperSport to ex-Downs striker
Read more »
Big sponsorship announcement imminent at Richards BayBig sponsorship announcement imminent at Richards Bay
Read more »
Official: Richards Bay Unveil R100m Sponsor!Official: Richards Bay Unveil R100m Sponsor!
Read more »
Sithebe and Kutumela headline Richards Bay FC new signingsSithebe and Kutumela have returned to the province that made them household names in recent years, and will hope to revive their careers.
Read more »
Richards Bay unveil new players and sponsorRichards Bay finished the season in 15th spot last season and they had to save their top flight status through the playoffs.
Read more »
A look at Richards Bay's multibillion rich sponsorsA look at Richards Bay's multibillion rich sponsors
Read more »