UPDATE (3 April: 10am)
All is now quiet in the area around the Mpumalanga Guesthouse.
For clarity:
The old Winkelhaak Mine complex is situated in the area between the eMbalenhle/Graceland road, the R546 (Evander/eMbalenhle road) and the Evander/Secunda road.
The road from Boom 3 to Evander Dump site cuts directly through the property.
(3 April: 2am)
Heavily armed illegal miners (zama-zamas) stormed the Mpumalanga Guesthouse (MPG) last night, 2 April in a quest to find gold.
The zama-zamas launched their attack on the guesthouse which once used to be part of the old Winkelhaak Mine complex, situated between eMbalenhle, Evander and Secunda.
According to a spokesman MavCorp, their special operations unit that provides backup for high risk situations received a duress call at about 11.20pm.
The unit was deployed and after hours of heavy gunfight, pushed back the zama-zamas.
“The attackers shot at us with handguns, Ak47’s and high powered riffles, ” the spokesman said.
Petrol bombs have also been used. A member of the MavCorp unit was shot in the leg in the battle.
He was taken to hospital and stabilised.
People are warned stay away from the area between MPG and eMbalenhle toward Sasol.
It is unsafe. Shots are still being fired.
