By Everson Luhanga
As the sound of gunfire rings out throughout the night, residents of Kagiso and Krugersdorp are reminded to stay in their homes for safety as rival groups of zama zamas battle for territory.
It is not uncommon for bullets to rip through people’s houses or lodge in the walls and ceilings, leaving residents crying desperately for help.
Kelebogile Molefe from Kagiso Ext. 1 next to the Soul City informal settlement said early this year that nine bodies were found in the settlement where two rival illegal mining gangs had fought each other.
“I went to the Kagiso police station to get a protection order against my partner, but I couldn’t get assistance because all the police vans had gone to the crime scene where multiple bodies were found,” Kelebogile said.
She said the men move in groups and the shooting usually starts in the late afternoon.
“It becomes worse at night when the gunfire becomes heavy and non-stop,” she said.
Kelebogile said that, from the sound of the gunfire, they are not using pistols.
“The zama zamas use heavy weapons such as rifles. We live as if we are in a warzone with the sound of the guns all around us,” she said.
In July 2022, Minister of Police Bheki Cele and former Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela led several operations in the West Rand in the wake of the gang rape of eight young women at the hands of illegal miners during a music video shoot at a disused Krugersdorp mine dump.
Police crawled through narrow holes in the veld to find the zama zamas, used drones to chase them, and raided houses around Krugersdorp. Many illegal miners were arrested and their equipment was seized and destroyed. Several appeared in court after their arrests.
No one has yet been arrested or charged for the rape of the eight women or the theft of R1.5-million worth of equipment from the film crew.
A resident said the sound of gunshots in the area brings back memories of the rape of the young women at the disused mine dump.
In August 2022, residents of Soul City embarked on a shutdown to remove illegal miners from their area. They accused the police of doing nothing even after distressed residents gave them tip-offs.
“Zama zamas are attacking our community and killing us while the police are doing nothing about it,” said resident David Mathapelo.
“Women in this community cannot walk on the streets freely because of the rapes and murders that happen almost daily. We are tired of living in fear in our own country,” he said.
Pictured above: Zama zamas.
Image source: Everson Luhanga
