IN PICTURES: Police conduct operation to stamp out illegal mining in Zamimpilo

City of Johannesburg MMC for Public Safety Mgcini Tshwaku joined the operation. Riverlea residents have been plagued by violent gun battles between warring illegal mining gangs. Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, demolish a shack as they conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, dismantle shacks linked to illegal mining activity as they conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, dismantle a shack allegedly linked to illegal mining as they conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, search through a shack allegedly linked to illegal mining activity, as they conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Young Zamimpilo informa settlement residents look on as members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the area, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, break down the door of a shack allegedly linked to illegal mining activity as they conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen A member of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) wields a spade as he helps demolish a shack allegedly linked to illegal mining activity, as the JMPD conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) demolish a shack linked to illegal mining activity as they conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023, following ongoing violent gun battles between warring groups of "zama zamas" in the area. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen A member of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) stands guard as the JMPD conducts an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen A member of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) is seen among shacks as the JMPD conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Members of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), alongside other law enforcers, stand next to a hole used by illegal miners to access underground tunnels, as they conduct an operation to stamp out illegal mining in the Zamimpilo informal settlement in Riverlea, 6 August 2023. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen

IN PICTURES: Police conduct operation to stamp out illegal mining in Zamimpilo

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