UPDATE: Fight leaves four illegal miners dead
A fight between two groups of illegal miners is suspected to be the reason behind the death of four people.
This is according to Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng, SAPS provincial spokesperson.
“Police were tipped off by one of the illegal miners, about the incident, which led to the men being shot,” said Mofokeng.
Four suspected illegal miners were killed during the incident.
One body was found in Chief Albert Luthuli Park, two along Daveyton Main Road and the fourth only 50 metres away.
Mofokeng said four counts of murder will be opened and other charges will be added later, pending further investigations.
WO Ramothakhi Maqabe, Benoni cluster spokesperson, said it is still unclear how one of the bodies ended up in Chief Albert Luthuli Park.
“Of the five arrested suspects, three were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds, and two were taken to the Crystal Park SAPS for questioning,” said Maqabe.
Chief Albert Luthuli Park residents were woken by gunfire and a hovering helicopter in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A woman said she heard gunfire from about 11pm on Wednesday night.
“I was sleeping when I heard them (the shots) and they stopped at about 3am.
“I was too scared to go outside and check,” said the woman.
A large crowd of residents stood watching the scene at Chief Albert Luthuli Park, where one body was found.
There are unconfirmed reports of police shooting dead a suspected illegal miner this morning after shots were fired at police.
More details to follow.#illegalminers
View these videos to see the SAPS comment on the shooting and a shot of the scene on Daveyton Main Road:
