UPDATE: SAPS arrest 26 illegal immigrants
Following the shootings, in the Grootvlei Mine area, earlier this week, of 15 illegal miners who died from their injuries, the SAPS arrested 26 illegal immigrants in Gugulethu and Everest informal settlements overnight on Wednesday.
Springs police spokesman Capt Johannes Ramphora says the SAPS Flying Squad Unit and Public Order Policing members patrolled the area throughout Wednesday night.
Ramphora says they called in reinforcements to assist with their investigation on Wednesday and says “we have worked non-stop since Tuesday and SAPS members will patrol the area for the rest of the week to monitor the situation.”
While patrolling Gugulethu and Everest informal settlements, the police searched shacks for possible illegal miners.
Ramphora confirms that 26 illegal immigrants, believed to be illegal miners, were arrested.
Since Monday 15 illegal immigrants have been killed by suspected rival illegal mining groups.
Two illegal miners were shot dead in Gugulethu informal settlement on Monday.
The security guards at Grootvlei Mine Shaft Four discovered four bodies, each with one bullet wound to the chest, on Tuesday morning.
According to Bakerton residents, another shooting started on Tuesday night and Springs police were once again called to the scene for the third time in two days.
Ramphora claims it was two groups shooting at each other with different calibre firearms.
The shooting took place in Francolin, Bunting, Roller and Harrier roads in Bakerton, where multiple bodies were found.
Top level provincial SAPS members met on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning to discuss possible solutions to the problem of illegal mining in and around Springs.
Ramphora says the police recognise that this is a long-term problem and, while they will be patrolling the area throughout this week, a permanent solution needs to be found to end illegal mining.
