EMPD foils gang’s plan to rob zama-zamas

EMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago revealed authorities received information about a gang of about eight people who wanted to rob illegal miners as they exited a shaft, Benoni City Times reports.

The incident happened near the intersection of Snake Road and Golden Drive.

“The EMPD Tracing Unit was following up on a tip-off that there was a gang of men waiting to rob the zama-zamas of the gold dust when they came up from the shafts,” said Kgasago.

“In the early hours when the gang sighted the metro police, they opened fire, and a gun battle ensued resulting in one suspect being shot dead and a 9mm pistol found on his person. When the suspects realised they could not match the metro police’s fire power they ran and disappeared into the mine shafts and in the process dropped two 9mm pistols.”

READ MORE: Saftu calls on government to employ ‘zama-zamas’

Barely after two hours after the shooting, one suspect who tried to sneak out of the shaft, was apprehended. He was detained at Benoni Police Station on charges of illegal mining as well as being an undocumented person.

All three firearms recovered on the scene were booked in at the same police station.

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Saftu calls on government to employ ‘zama zamas’

– Caxton News Service