Everson Luhanga
Residents of New Canada west of Johannesburg fear that the murder of six illegal miners on Wednesday will add fuel to the flames of the ongoing war between zamazamas.
The locals have said that for several years they have had to witness the men fighting over territory, with each conflict more often than not ending in a bloodbath.
The six bodies discovered on Wednesday morning were shot and hacked by pangas.They were discovered near a mine dump in Bosmont and New Canada, but they were very close to the homes of local residents.
The discovery made national news but one resident said it was a reminder of what has been happening in their area for many years.
“They fight and kill each other. We are afraid that it will end badly for innocent people who will be caught in a crossfire,” said the resident, who asked not to be named.
He said one of the men was chased by the rival zamazama into someone’s yard where he was shot and killed. The other five bodies were found scattered around the veld.
Terrified residents say they are scared for their lives and are calling for police to intervene and drive the zamazamas out of their neighbourhood.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo confirmed that six bodies were found in the area.
“Police were alerted about the bodies that were lying in an open veld next to the N1 freeway in Bosmont and New Canada, Johannesburg District.
“Police proceeded to the scene and upon searching the area, a total of six bodies with gunshot wounds were found,” he said.
Masondo said the motive for the shooting cannot be confirmed at this stage although the victims are suspected to be illegal miners.
When Scrolla.Africa arrived on the scene, a mortuary van from Roodepoort Pathology moved from one body to the other, picking up the slain men.
There were also several bullets and bullet shells found in the overgrown grass near the bodies.
Many motorists on the busy N1 highway would stop after seeing the police crime take to check what was happening.
