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“We are constantly under attack, every day after sunset there is a huge gun battle here.”
So said pastor Anthony Sherman, chairperson of Riverlea Ext 2 Residents Association, who complained that law enforcement agencies were oblivious to illegal miners (zama zamas) in the area.
He said they had seen an influx of zama zamas and the problem had worsened over the past five years, leaving some residents thinking vigilantism was the only option.
Things are out of control and law enforcement agencies are reluctant to act.
Residents embarked on protests on Monday, blocking the road with rubble and burning tyres. The protest followed the discovery of five bodies of suspected illegal miners.
The five men were shot dead, with police linking the killings to a shoot-out between two rival groups of illegal miners.
“They are doing nothing. That is one of the contributing factors. We have engaged the mining ministry, but they have been reluctant and only co-operated in closing holes used by zama zamas,” he said.
The illegal miners had dug new holes and the nearby Zamimpilo informal settlement was a no-go area, allegedly occupied by illegal miners.
“They have escalated the problem to another level by entering the community during running battles with each other using high calibre guns,” he added.
While the problem is in the spotlight in Riverlea, residents of Primrose in Ekurhuleni have been living in fear due to the alleged illegal miners’ turf wars over the past few years.
Tracey Enslin of the Primrose Community Policing Forum said Simmerfields, Primrose and Wychwood were directly affected, as illegal miners were mining nearby.
Residents are terrified and afraid to leave their homes because of the shootings. She added it’s a turf war happening without enough police to handle the problem.
“At night we can do nothing as it is too dangerous. We just hope and pray stray bullets don’t come through our homes.”
In March this year they had a huge zama zama turf war.
“We had to evacuate the school across the road. It was very bad, we had residents across the road from the dumpsite lying flat on the floor hiding in their houses until it finished. They started about 10am and finished at 3pm,” she said.
Police and private security companies arrived and were met by gunfire from zama zamas. This went on for about five hours, she said.
Sherman said the gunfight on Saturday night and Sunday morning in Riverlea was terrible. He had to call an ambulance after two people were shot in front of his gate.
“I had to go save one of our ladies who is part of the Riverlea Ext 2 Residents Association because one of the zama zamas with a high calibre firearm was trying to break her door down.
“They knew her. They were targeting her, and when I went to save her, just across from my house a lady was lying dead. This was on Saturday night/Sunday morning.
“That’s an abnormal situation. My one neighbour has a small child; the child was asking her, ‘must we still stay here or mustn’t we move because people don’t want us here?’ Now if your small daughter is asking you that, I mean come on.”
Gunfire starts after dark every night and sometimes continues the whole night.
Police minister Bheki Cele visited the area on Monday and addressed residents, promising to increase police visibility in the area.
Sherman said he wished Cele had stayed the night to see what goes on.
Residents have raised the problem with parliament’s minerals committee and police in the past six months.
Residents felt failed by the police and wanted the army to be deployed to the area.
“Clearly there is no political will. Here there is a problem. We will resort to vigilantism. What is then going to happen? Here we have a community that is also armed. We may not be armed with high calibre firearms, but we need to avert this.”
The main problem was law enforcement agencies are not doing what they are supposed to do and are afraid. One of the law enforcement officers told him they are afraid to enter Zamimpilo.
“We have had running battles in the past where I asked law enforcement guys to get involved and when they are here, I asked, ‘what are you doing here?’ and they said, ‘we are here to observe,’” he said.
Besides the fear instilled by the zama zamas, Sherman raised other issues.
There are hazardous underground gas and petrol pipelines from Transnet and Rand Water high-pressure pipes running through their community.
“Those people in Zamipilo are using dynamite close to those pipes. If one of those things is damaged there is going to be a disaster and explosion. We have to look at these things and these are the things the government seems to be oblivious to.”
Life in Riverlea is different to other areas.
“If I know my neighbour has gone out for the evening, even for supper, I have to advise and call him and tell him don’t come now. Spend another half an hour where you are and when it is quiet I can say it’s fine now you can come home. It is abnormal living,” he said.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said police visibility has been intensified in Riverlea, Zamimpilo and the surrounding areas in the past few months.
“Several high-density crime combating operations have been conducted where undocumented foreign nationals were arrested and firearms recovered. Police also confiscated large quantities of tools used by illegal miners in the area. Police will continue to monitor the situation in the area to ensure residents are and feel safe,” he said.
Cele assured the community police are mobilising resources and specialised units to restore law and order.
Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said from April 1 2022 to March 31 this year, 1,199 illegal miners were arrested, including 100 South Africans, 124 Zimbabweans, 232 Basotho from Lesotho and 79 Mozambicans.
“R1.8m, 9,991 rounds of ammunition, 177 vehicles, seven trucks, five tractors, loaders, backhoes, 233 phendukas and 771 digging tools were seized, among other items,” she said.
Cele said specialised units will be deployed to the area.
“These specialised units are being brought in to ensure we apprehend illegal miners and put a stop to the illegal operations. Our focus is to ensure law and order is restored in this area. We cannot have a situation where communities live in fear, we are going to deal decisively with these criminals.” said Cele.
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