The National Prosecuting Authority NPA has amended the indictment against eight people accused of being part of an alleged illegal mining enterprise after the alleged kingpin, Bethuel Ngobeni, failed to appear in court for the second time.
Ngobeni, a Zimbabwean national whose real name is believed to be Zingai Dhliwayo, has been on the run since December after the Pretoria high court revoked his bail.
In February, he failed to appear in court and judge Portia Phahlane authorised his warrant of arrest.
The new indictment, which was handed to his co-accused on Monday, omits his name.
The accused Lerato Bathebeng, Dumisani Moyo, Neo Duba, Poppy Mathongwane, Nhlanhla Magwaca, Moseki Sechele, Thabo Sechele and Khudzai Mashaya face several charges, including trading in illicit gold, money laundering, fraud, racketeering and violating the Immigration Act, among others. Bathebeng was Ngobeni's girlfriend.