Former Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale, whose wife is accused of illegal mining. (Gallo)
The wife of former Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale and four others appeared in the Maake Magistrate's Court in Mpumalanga on Monday.
Mokgadi Kgohloane and her co-accused would be back in court on December 9, said Hawks spokesperson Paul Ramaloko.
They were arrested earlier this year in connection with illegal mining in the Maake area. The co-accused are Kgohloane's co-directors in the mining company Blue Platinum Ventures 16, that allegedly operated without a valid permit.
Kgohloane faces a possible R5-million fine or 10 years' imprisonment if found guilty of mining illegally.
The five appeared in the Maake Magistrate's Court in August.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Paul Ramaloko said at the time that police received the information through a whistleblower.
Police carried out a joint investigation with the departments of energy and environmental affairs. "We went to investigate…and they could not produce the permit," said Ramaloko. – Sapa