By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Presidency says it is concerned not only by the proliferation of the illegal mining but by the violence it’s causing across the country.
The president’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya addressed the media at the Union Buildings on Thursday.
Magwenya’s remarks come on the back of the recent discovery of five bodies believed to be those of illegal miners, who were killed during a shootout between two rival groups in Riverlea, south of Johannesburg.
The discovery sparked violent protests by community members who claim to live in fear due to illegal mining.
Following the protests, Gauteng police confirmed the arrest of more than 80 suspects in Riverlea.
Sixty-nine of the suspects were undocumented persons.
“There are concerns not only with illegal mining but the subsequent violence that seems to characterize these activities, the loss of lives that seems to be a feature around these illegal activities.
“We are equally encouraged, though by the progress that the SAPS are making in this regard. A number of arrests have been effected between April last year and March of this year, about 1,199 illegal miners have been arrested to date.” A significant chunk of ammunition, vehicles, trucks, and tools were also seized.”
On Thursday afternoon, the Special Task Force, National Intervention Unit, TRT, and Tactical Vision security guards descended on the area with a SAPS helicopter hovering above.
They first raided the informal settlement where they arrested nine suspected illegal miners.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said they targeted identified shacks.
“We received information earlier today that zama zamas have opened one or two holes that we closed on Wednesday. We suspect that they had gone underground using those reopened holes. Our units are monitoring the holes,” said Muridili.
“Last night, there was a shooting in the same area. From the Wednesday shootout, we arrested 11 suspects.”
Magwenya has given the assurance that the issue has the attention of government at the very highest level and police are staking out hotspot areas as part of the government’s clamp down on the vandalism of infrastructure.