SA investor arrested

Sunday News Reporter
A SOUTH African citizen has been arrested in Fort Rixon, Matabeleland South under unclear circumstances believed to be linked to the dispute over the sale of local mining company Baragon Investments which has spilled into the courts.

Although Matabeleland South police spokesman Sergeant Thabani Mkwananzi could not be reached for comment on the matter, senior police officers familiar with the case and his family confirmed that Mr Mike Mogale was picked and has been detained at Fort Rixon Police Station since Thursday.

The police officer, however, said police first wanted to charge Mr Mogale with contempt of court over an issue which later turned out to be affecting his son but later discovered that he was not involved in the transaction.

“It has taken time to open a docket because the charges are not clear, there were also insituations that he was working without a permit but all that is yet to be proven,” he said.

His son Mr Tlou Kabelo confirmed the arrest of his father and said he suspected that one of Baragon’s minority shareholders (name supplied) was behind the arrest.

“My father contributed some of the money that was used to purchase the mine and like any father he came here to visit me.

He decided to go and see where the mine is and I don’t know whether visiting to see where your son has invested amounts to working,” he said.

Mr Kabelo said police kept on changing statements.

“When the police arrived at the mine, first they said they were arresting him for stealing carbons. When they discovered that he was my father they then said they were arresting him because he did not have a passport. On Friday we took his passport to the police and again they changed that he was being arrested for working without a permit,” said Mr Kabelo.

“When we inquired with Home Affairs, they confirmed that his papers were in order so I don’t know why he is being held.”

Zimbabwe Entrepreneurs Youth Action president Cde James Pande said it was disheartening that investors were being taken through such stressing ordeal, adding that police should be clear on the charges the South African was facing.