Illegal miners invade Golden Drive property

Local business owners in Golden Drive are calling on police to take stern action against illegal miners digging for gold on private property.

According to tenants renting at the Bluegum Creek Estate (office park), the mining activities at an illegal mining site have now spilt over to their doorstep, with a significant negative impact on their businesses.

It started in October when a handful of illegal miners armed with shovels invaded the estate, gaining access to the property from the back. The tenants said that as months progressed, the number of illegal miners increased and they started operating day and night.

When the Benoni City Times visited the property on June 6, it was business as usual for over 100 miners sifting and turning the soil in search of gold. While there, we witnessed two bakkies (red and white) reverse into the property from the back and the miners load these up with bags.

One miner told us they moved to the property because they are simply looking for gold and nothing else.

“We are doing this because we are unemployed. We need to survive.

“We are not here to do anything else but dig for gold,” he said, jokingly adding that there is plenty of gold under the building.

An employee who works for one of the companies on the property, Josephine Katsukunya, said the police need to do something.

“It is uncomfortable for clients when you invite them to our offices.

“We don’t know who we are facing or dealing with, so we had to make a plan for the equipment to be moved elsewhere for its safety.

“This has also become an expense for the company because we have to pay rent here and where we are keeping the equipment.” She added she fears for her life.

“I am in the office as early as 06:30. I lock myself in until our male colleagues arrive. Sometimes when I go outside, they (the miners) start whistling.”

The company has contacted the police numerous times, but nothing has been done. Katsukunya’s colleague said sometime last year police officers told her they fear the miners because they were heavily armed and possessed dangerous explosives.

“We fear that if they continue their operation here, in the next few months they will be next to our door because they are digging closer and closer to the building. One evening when we came to collect something at the office, we were shocked to find them there. It was like a Christmas festival with lights everywhere,” said the colleague.

Katsukunya said they had a tap outside their building but removed it to reduce the traffic of the miners, who would often get water here. Every morning, staff watch in horror as they witness the miners undressing and changing into their work clothing.

“They pee anywhere, in full view of everyone. It’s like they have literally taken over and are entitled to this land,” said Katsukunya.

Lionel Marks of Super Cops expressed disappointment at how the property has been ruined.

“Flea markets were held here and it was a great outing for the community. There were restaurants and a heliport too,” he said.

According to one of the owners of Bluegum Creek Estate, who preferred to remain anonymous, they have recently finished building a wall to secure the property.

“We had no choice but to spend a huge amount of money building the wall because the business has to protect itself,” he said, adding that so far the wall is keeping illegal miners out.

According to Colonel Dimakatso Newhuhulwi, of provincial SAPS, they are waiting for information from Benoni SAPS.

No further official comment was received from the provincial SAPS at the time of publication.

The police conducted a multidisciplinary operation targeting illegal mining hotspots in New Modder and Golden Drive on June 15 and arrests were made.

Also Read: UPDATE: Fight leaves four illegal miners dead

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