Alleged fatalities after rival illegal miners clash

Reid Street today, 7 January, was the scene of illegal mining going awry – once again.

Members of SAPS, JMPD and Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) swamped the veld behind Roodepoort Rugby Club in their effort to reach the miners underground as more than a hundred fellow miners, friends and family looked on.

This time around though it was not a case of illegal miners being trapped. On the morning of 6 January, according to unofficial sources, five suspects from one group of illegal miners allegedly approached a rival group demanding their gold.

A fight broke out, shots were fired and there were stabbings. It is alleged that there were fatalities but because EMS and law-enforcement agencies have not been able to reach the miners underground, numbers could not be established yet.

The operation was still under way at 1.44pm.