The last six months of 2023 were dominated by news of zama zama turf wars, brutal killings amongst themselves as well innocent lives being claimed in the process. The police have conducted various operations to curb the scourge of the illegal mining syndicate where ruthless and heavily armed men terrorise communities but there seems to be no end to it.

ZAMA ZAMA WARS

In August, about 40 women and children from Jerusalema informal settlement in West Rand were forced to seek refuge at Florida SAPS fearing that they might get caught in the crossfire and catch a stray bullet when zama zamas exchanged fire in their kasi. The police were also forced to intervene in Riverlea, south of Johannesburg, where illegal miners engaged in a gunfight in the streets that left six members of rival zama zama gangs dead. The MMC for Community Safety Mgcini Tshwaku said the clash started when zama zamas from Zamimpilo and Riverlea clashed with their counterparts in Jerusalema after fleeing their camps frustrated by law enforcement. "It is a dangerous turf war. Zama zamas that we chased from Zamimpilo and Riverlea are now fighting with those in Jerusalema. They want to own Jerusalema. Their battles start every evening.

FORCES ON THE GROUND

President Cyril Ramaphosa last month announced the deployment of 3,300 South African National Defence Force members for six months to assist the police in combating illegal mining at a cost of almost R500m. "Members of the SANDF will, in co-operation with the South African Police Service, conduct an intensified anti-criminality operation against illegal mining across all provinces, from 28 October 2023 until 28 April 2024," he said. To date, 4,067 suspects have been arrested on illegal mining-related charges and 4,068 cases of contravention of the Immigration Act are pending before court. Among the arrested are 63 South Africans and 2,739 people from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan and Uganda.