District officials worried about Primrose illegal mining
The challenge is that there are two rivalry groups in the area who are fighting for the mining shafts.
Brigadier Lebohang Machakela, Ekurhuleni’s deputy district commissioner, led the two-day Operation Okae Molao in Primrose.
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The operation was conducted to curb criminal activity in Primrose and its surrounding areas.
Other law enforcement agencies joined the SAPS for the second day of the operation from early in the morning until late in the evening on April 13.
Operations focused on compliance of liquor outlets and compliance of secondhand goods, roadworthiness of vehicles and drugs.
The Germiston City News spoke to Machakela about criminal activities affecting Primrose, including illegal mining operations at the Simmer and Jack Landfill Site. This follows the recent shooting incidents between waste reclaimers, officials and other law enforcement agency members, with civilians caught in the crossfire.
In recent weeks, GCN has covered issues confronting law enforcement officers and citizens living near the waste site.
According to Machakela, the district is aware of the illegal mining operations and gun wars between the Zama Zamas at the waste site.
“The challenge is that there are two rivalry groups in the area who are fighting for the mining shafts,” explained Machakela.
“When our members intervene or conduct operations, they are always met with high calibre fire.”
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He stated that the SAPS does conduct monthly joint mining operations throughout Ekurhuleni.
“The operations aim to reduce illegal mining throughout the city. The challenge is to mobilise resources to address this problem.”
He said that the SAPS performs joint operations every month in the Ekurhuleni region.
“The actions are intended to stop unlawful mining throughout the city.
“The difficulty is that we must mobilise our resources to solve this problem. We need more personnel to handle this during operations.
“To provide us with air assistance, we conduct a coordinated operation with other stakeholders using a helicopter.
“Without sufficient power, we are doomed during these operations. We involve additional parties, such as the Department of Mineral Resources.
“Most essential, we require in-field expectations, therefore we contact staff from the Department of Mineral Resources. They have received training in mining shaft navigation. determining the type of mineral that we have seized.
“They do various tests on the soil that contains gold. If we launch an operation without the assistance of this agency, we will be unable to claim that the suspects are illegal miners in court. The SAPS can only then charge the suspect with illegal immigration.
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“If they are South African then they too will be charged accordingly. These operations have been successful in Benoni, Brakpan and Springs. It’s a difficult operation to execute because not only we are risking our lives by being shot at but we get buried underground because we are not mining expects.
“Primrose and Germiston SAPS precincts are keeping a close eye on the illegal mining situation.
“We will continue to conduct these mining operations around the city and rotate from one area to the other,” said Machakela.
Operation Okae Molao
Leading from the front, checking the roadworthiness of the vehicles and other illegal staff that might be hidden in the vehicle, was various station commanders from Germiston, Vosloorus and Katlehong.
Home affairs immigration officer Beka Yingwani, CPF chairperson Tracy Enslin, EMPD Superintendent Kobus Bierman, Ekurhuleni district coordinators, Ekurhuleni West station commanders and other stakeholders were also part of the operations.
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The focus of this operation was roadblocks, hotspots, drugs, liquor, and secondhand goods enforcement.
Preliminary successes of this operation were as follows:
• Fifty-eight traffic fines to the value of R24 000 were issued at the roadblock at Pretoria and Buss roads and also Stanhope and Mulin streets.
• Forty-six illegal immigrants arrested were arrested.
• Three illegal shebeens were closed and one suspect was arrested for dealing in dagga.
In other operations on April 12, 209 suspects were arrested. Of them, 111 suspects were arrested for contact crimes, 34 for gender-based violence-related issues, 52 for other serious crimes and 11 for property-related crimes.
“One fine was issued to a secondhand good dealer for noncompliance to the value of R1 500. Three suspects were also arrested for possession of drugs, and one taxi was discontinued.”
