Following additional investigations into the Crown interchange robberies on the M1 Johannesburg, it is now believed the gun battle between rival zama zama groups in Primrose on February 20 may be linked.
Law enforcement members were caught in a gun battle with illegal miners in Primrose at Shamrock Road shortly after reports surfaced of motorists being robbed on the M1.
A shootout between the two rival groups turned on JMPD members when they arrived on the scene. The officers returned fire.
The Joburg metro officers responded to the Primrose incident as they were monitoring illegal mining activities, following the alleged robbery of motorists on the same day.
The officers subsequently arrested eight men on the crime scene, which was congested by the JMPD tactical response unit and Primrose SAPS members.
One of the eight suspects sustained serious injuries.
“We believe the Primrose shootout is connected to the M1 robberies allegedly involving illegal miners,” said JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla.
“Responding to the alleged robbery of motorists and attempting to combat the scourge of illegal mining activities, officers followed up when they received information about the Primrose shooting.
“As the officers arrived at the Primrose location, they saw two groups of men shooting at each other.
“When the suspects noticed the officers, they started shooting at them and the officers returned fire. Amid the shootout, the officers saw a suspect fall to the ground and called for backup.
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“When the backup from Primrose SAPS, Flying Squad and Airwing arrived, the officers entered the open veld, where they found one man on the ground. He had been shot, and a rifle was next to him.
“The law enforcers apprehended another seven suspects. Gauteng EMS attended to the wounded suspect who was taken to Germiston Hospital under police guard.
“The suspects, consisting of South African and Lesotho nationals, were detained at Primrose SAPS and charged with attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and illegal mining.”
The JMPD acting chief of police Angie Mokasi commended the officers on their efforts to fight illegal mining.
Close the holes
The shooting transpired a day after Major General Anna Sithole, the district commissioner, welcomed the results of the Vala Umgodi (close the holes) operations conducted in the Makause informal settlement on February 19.
The provincial police, SANDF, EMPD and other law enforcement agencies led the operations.
Ekurhuleni district communications officer Captain Neldah Sekgobela said the Monday operations yielded results with 37 suspects put behind bars.
“Twenty-eight were nabbed for being undocumented, seven for illegal mining, one for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and one for possession of drugs and illegal trade in liquor.
“The officers also seized drugs, liquor and illegal mining equipment. The district commissioner praised the joint efforts of the teams involved that led to the arrest and confiscation of illegal mining equipment,” said Sekgobela.
Primrose CPF chairperson Tracy Enslin said on Thursday the justice system is failing the residents and diminishes police officers’ efforts to make arrests.
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“Members risk their lives to keep residents safe, make arrests and remove illegal firearms from the streets, but the courts always release the suspects.
“Once an operation is done, the shooting quiets down for a day or two because the suspects still need to appear before the courts. Once they are released, they come back, and the shooting starts again. Tuesday’s shooting did not only put civilians in danger, but our police members’ lives were also at stake.
“We need to see more convictions and deportations. Then we will know we will end illegal mining,“ said Enslin.
She said the CPF was informed that Tuesday’s shootout was possibly between rival groups from Makause and Springs
“The Makause group was allegedly defending their shaft at the time of the shootout. The danger is the shootings are now occurring in the daytime when children are playing outside,” said Enslin.
“The underlying danger is the underground digging is going to cause sinkholes, our roads collapsing and our properties’ foundations damaged.
“The SANDF has been to Primrose four times since December 1. We need to close all the holes in the area,“ said Enslin.
She said the illegal mining equipment confiscated on Tuesday and during other operations get destroyed.
