The West Rand District Police celebrated a small victory against zama zamas by destroying illegal mining equipment at the Kagiso Police Station.
According to Krugersdorp Police Station Commander Brigadier Happy Xaba, this equipment was used to conduct illegal mining activities across the district. The destruction event took place on September 4 where 143 pendukas, 21 penduka stands, 800 steel balls, five motor chains and one motor were cut into smaller pieces, to render it useless.
A penduka (which means to rotate) is a makeshift, hand-cranked tumbler made of a used metal tank – along with iron balls that crush the material to a sand-like consistency.
“This equipment was confiscated during operations all over the West Rand. One of the biggest successes was during a provincial operation recently where we confiscated 63 pendukas and other illegal mining equipment,” Xaba said.
Xaba added that the pieces of equipment would be sold off for scrap metal.
“The funds generated from the scrap metal being sold will go directly back into and fund the police,” Xaba concluded.
