Magdeline Chengeta (54) has been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment or a R50,000 fine by the Mogwase Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 12 February 2026, following her conviction on charges of illegal mining and fraud.
Chengeta was arrested in July 2023 by members of the Rustenburg-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit, in collaboration with Bafokeng Public Order Police, the Tactical Response Team, and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
Her arrest stemmed from information received regarding community members engaged in illegal mining activities in Mogwase. Chengeta was allegedly found mining chrome using a permit that belonged to another individual. Preliminary investigations revealed that the permit holder had not granted Chengeta permission to use it.
She was subsequently charged and appeared in court multiple times before being convicted on both counts. The court imposed a sentence of three years’ imprisonment or a R50,000 fine.