“It seems as if some of the zama-zamas are now also robbing people,” a police officer told the Herald.Four cases related to attacks by zama-zamas were reported between 12 and 14 October. All of them occurred around Sibanye-Stillwater’s Tshepong hostel and 4 Shaft. Another incident this past week showed that illegal miners are also getting more organised. Mine security personnel were doing a routine patrol in the East Driefontein area when they noticed an unknown truck and loading machine. A group of 12 illegal miners, who were also busy in the area, saw the security personnel arriving and ran away before they could be apprehended. The mine security officers approached the drivers and asked them what they were doing. The men introduced themselves as residents of the Westonaria area. They said a group of Lesotho nationals had hired them to load gold-bearing material and transport it to Bekkersdal. Both were arrested on charges of being in possession of gold-bearing material and being on mine property without permission.
