A West Village resident was killed while he was trying to get away from a shooting near his home.
Residents agreed to speak to News journalist, Natasha Pretorius anonymously for fear of being targeted by criminals.
A member of the community explained to the News that this is just one of many incidents that occur in the village on a weekly basis. He said on Sunday, May 22 at about 18:40 a man was on his way home to his wife and two children when there was a shooting a few houses down the road. The man ran towards his house but thugs who ran after him shot and robbed him. They ran away but returned and shot him again.
Captain Raymond Sebonyane from the Krugersdorp Police Station confirmed the incident and said a case of armed robbery was being investigated and the unknown killers were being sought.
*However, days later police informed the News that the charges listed in the story that was published on the News’ website on Thursday June 2 pertained to another case. Captain Sebonyane promised to follow up and provide the News with the actual charges pertaining to the West Village shooting as soon as possible — Ed.
A day before the fatal shooting a woman was robbed in the village. The News was told that the woman’s car broke down on the corner near the water tank. While she was phoning for help two alleged illegal miners approached her, smashed her car window, and grabbed her cell phone from her hand. This happened on Saturday, May 21 at about 19:32.
About two months ago, according to another community member, the illegal miners turned their attention to digging up copper cables. They since have seen an increase in crimes of opportunity, and other issues apart from those linked to the illegal miners have reared their ugly heads.
Some youngsters have broken into houses and stole gas bottles and copper, using young children playing outside as lookouts. The illegal miners have become so brazen that they allegedly do not even hide the firearms they carry. Others not linked to illegal mining take advantage of the zama zamas‘ bad reputation to commit crimes.
There are at least two incidents a week and some are not even reported because residents know the police won’t do anything. The victims are also afraid of being targeted.
The community claimed that the police would drive through the village but do nothing to combat crime. If they do respond to calls they would do a raid and then leave again. The powers of the West Village Neighbourhood Watch are also very limited. There are only six or seven member and they do not have powers of arrest.
They patrol, respond and try to get the services out but are only supposed to be the eyes and ears, observe and report. They do this on a volunteer basis and need to wear bulletproof vests. Everybody looks to them, but how do they stop a shooting?” one man added.
Referring to a type of ‘silent curfew’ one resident said there were no explicit rules to keep yourself safe, but everyone knew to stay inside between 18:00 and 06:00. You watch where you drive and pay attention to what is happening around you.
The Executive Mayor of Mogale City Local Municipality, Councillor Tyrone Gray has started a petition to get the national and provincial governments to intervene.
He said Mogale City was established as a mining town and now the entire area is suffering devastation caused by illicit activities such as illegal mining by zama zamas. This is a massive problem as the damage to infrastructure causes sinkholes in roads, such as in Windsor Road, and puts the lives of residents at risk.
The areas of West Village and Luipaardsvlei are particularly hard hit as well as Soul City, Swaneville, Kagiso, Kromdraai, Muldersdrift and areas bordering Randfontien.
This brazen attack on people’s lives, water infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, as well as roads is an outright declaration of war on the people of Mogale City in particular, but the West Rand in general. He described it as rampant disrespect of the rule of law and life by zama zamas as many people are beaten, murdered and raped. It requires urgent intervention by national government, “… including mobilising the SANDF to protect our citizens.
Multiple departments and spheres of government such as Home Affairs; SAPS; Public Safety; Provincial Community Safety; SANDF; Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; Mineral Resources and Energy; as well as state-owned enterprises such as Rand Water, Eskom and PRASA are required to protect their infrastructure.
“This petition calls on all three spheres of government to establish an anti zama zama committee to coordinate action plans to address this matter as a high priority. Multiple areas in Mogale City are suffering under the crippling effect of illegal mining to the extent that a disaster zone declaration is imminent. A commission of inquiry is further needed and is necessary to establish where the profits are being made along this illegal mining value chain.
“This is a national, provincial and local issue and can create severe and permanent damage to local and national economies, as well as people’s lives. We desperately need national and provincial government intervention,” read the mayor’s petition.
You can add your name to the petition here.
Comments from those who have signed the petition:
• Patricia Bantom: They damage our roads.
• Johannes Fouche: We are really gatvol of crime in Krugersdorp due to illegal aliens from all over Africa with unregistered illegal firearms and explosives.
We are gatvol of travelling unsafely to Randfontein from Krugersdorp.
• Riaan Nel: The zama zamas have no respect for life or honest hardworking residents’ properties and public infrastructure. Most of the people are illegal immigrants anyway and need to be removed. Investigation and prosecution need to be instated against the purchasers of the raw materials. If there is no buyer, there will be no sellers (zamas).
• Tammy Labuschagne: I’m a resident of West Village and my children have to hear gunshots every week. My parents were physically attacked by the zama zamas and so was my brother. None of our friends feel safe to come to visit us. This can’t go on!
