Zama zamas hold mining towns hostage

Illegal mining throughout the city is a growing concern and it seems that the police are no closer of eradicating the problem as the zama-zamas have become crafty in their attempts to keep officers at bay.

Information indicates that a stretch of approximately 30 km, from Modderbee Correctional Services to Dewald Hattingh Road, is currently being mined with the most violent and volatile area being Shaft 13, Van Rhyn,

According to Col Khumbulani Ndaba, Visible Policing (Vispol) commander at the Benoni Police Station, the illegal mining operations have grown substantially with thousands of men and women participating in mining or supplying food and services to the miners.

The miners either work for themselves or are employed in these abandoned and disused mines by criminal syndicates.

Unemployment, poverty, illegal migration and the declining gold sector have all contributed to the growth of this activity, according to a 2021 report by Africa News.

Criminal gangs who promise them good fortune lure desperate young men from neighbouring countries to the mines.

Our country’s standard security forces cannot prevent or stop illegal mining activities, this is according to Mike Bolhuis specialist investigator of Specialised Security Services.

He continued by saying that his team has information that entire police stations and its members across the country, are being threatened, intimidated and even bribed to turn a blind eye to illegal mining within its jurisdiction.

“Illegal mining encompasses serious violent and economic crimes, we are inundated with calls from communities living in fear due to zama-zama activities in their areas,” he said.

Illegal miners speaks out 

The City Times spoke to Thuso and Tefo Lillo*, who are originally from the Mohale’s Hoek District in Lesotho.

The Lillo brothers have been working as illegal miners for over 10 years.

“Being unemployed made our lives unbearable. A family friend told us there was an opportunity at a mine in Springs and we should come to South Africa with him,” Tefo said.

Unbeknown to them, they were going to work as illegal miners.

Tefo suffered an injury that resulted in the loss of his left eye.

“I was at a mine in Modder East when the raid happened. We didn’t know the mine was still operating. We decided to camp, though we were aware of the presence of security guards.

“The owner and his guards came and fired a warning shot. We ran and hid atop the mine dump and watched them leave. 

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“About 20 minutes later, I saw everyone running for cover. When I lifted my head, I was shot in the eye. I woke up in hospital the following day, unaware of what had happened to me,” said Tefo.

He said after that experience, he has never set foot near a mine again.

Thuso continued to work in the old and abandoned mines of Nigel, Benoni and Springs for ore-bearing minerals to sell on the black market.

“I can’t stay in the township doing nothing. It’s better to do this than to be a thief. ,” he said.

“It’s a normal working environment, but because there’s no one in charge, sometimes there’s violence due to territorial infringements. 

“We can spend from a week up to a month underground. I have spent six months. When you are working, you worry less about food and other things. Your focus is on finding gold. My campmates brought me the supplies I needed.”

When asked how he has evaded arrest all these years, he said: “The police are people. If someone informs them about us, we sit down and ‘talk’. Once we agree, they become our informants.

Col Khumbulani Ndaba further stated that for the police to be successful in eradicating the city of zama-zamas a full tactical response is needed.

“The miners are setting traps for anyone that dares trespass on their territory. These deterrents are primitive yet intended to harm or kill.”

* Not their real names.

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