John Farley Pietersen and Peter Mark Johnstone have been served with a court order barring them from conducting any mining activities, processing ore, or engaging in the sale or movement of gold and other minerals linked to the disputed mining claims pending the final determination of the matter before the courts.
The order expressly prohibits Pietersen and Johnstone from presenting themselves as directors, officers, or authorised representatives of the Fifth Respondent in any capacity.
They have also been restrained from taking any action to deal with, transfer, encumber, sell, or dispose of the assets belonging to the Fifth Respondent until the matter is fully resolved.
In a significant development, the court further ordered that neither the two men nor any individuals acting on their behalf may undertake mining operations, prospecting, mineral extraction, or ore-processing activities on the mining claims in question, including the Royal Family Mining Claims.
The ruling specifically states that no gold or other minerals already extracted from the claims may be removed, emphasising that such operations can only be conducted by the Fifth Respondent.
The prohibitions extend beyond Pietersen and Johnstone themselves, applying equally to employees, agents, contractors, joint venture partners, and any other persons claiming rights or acting under their instructions.
The court directed that applications under cases HCH 2745/26, HCH 2599/26, and HCH 2600/26 be consolidated and heard on an expedited basis.
According to the order, the applicants must file their heads of argument by 30 June 2026, while the respondents are required to submit theirs by 3 July 2026. The Registrar has also been instructed to prioritise the consolidated matters and allocate the earliest available hearing date.
The ruling represents a major legal setback for John Farley Pietersen and Peter Mark Johnstone, effectively freezing all mining-related activities connected to the disputed claims until the courts make a final determination on the matter.
Apart from the contested assets, Pietersen also operates the Pottery Industries elution plant in Bulawayo and is linked to Metlabs laboratories as part of a wider network of mining-related interests.
Last year, at Pottery Industries, Pietersen and his son, Liam, were accused of assaulting black businessman Bekezela Moyo following a dispute over security operations. Videos of the incident circulated widely across southern Zimbabwe, further adding to Pietersen’s long history of legal disputes and court battles.
Meanwhile, footage allegedly obtained from the mining site today appears to show that operations were continuing despite the court order. If verified, this could raise serious questions regarding compliance with the ruling and potentially expose those involved to contempt of court proceedings.
The allegation that operations continued after the issuance of the court order remains subject to verification, and all parties retain the right to respond to the claims.
