Four bodies of illegal miners have been found in different spots in Roodepoort farm in Polokwane Limpopo over a period of two days. The first body was discovered by the police after they received a tip off on Monday. The man, a 37-year-old Lesotho national was found tied to a tree with a gunshot wound. Three more bodies were found in the same farm but at different spots also with gunshot wounds near an illegal mining site.
WAR OVER TURF
All the men have been identified as Lesotho nationals who were allegedly involved in a turf war with zama zamas who are from Zimbabwe, whom they robbed at gunpoint on Sunday night. Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the police received information on Tuesday about the incident at the farm under Westenburg policing area and a police helicopter was dispatched to hunt down the suspects and also search for the victims. "Preliminary police investigations indicate that a group of illegal miners from Lesotho and Zimbabwe were sitting around the fire next to an illegal mining shaft on Sunday morning when a group of Sesotho speaking suspects, armed with pistols, allegedly accosted them and robbed them of their cellphones and money. They then ran in different directions,' Mojapelo said. Mojapelo said the murder suspects allegedly chased after the men and fired shots at them.
FARMER SCARED FOR HIS LIFE
The farm owner who didn't want to be named said that he had reported the illegal activities happening at his farm but the police did not do anything. "I don't talk or complain to them because I am scared for my life. They steal my livestock and I just keep quiet,' the farmer said. The farmer added that in early August a zama zama died at the illegal mine when the mine caved in on him. His fellow zama zamas dug his body out and left it on the main road. "If these people can do this to one of their own who am I?' the farmer asked.
POLICE NEED HELP TO FIND KILLERS
The Limpopo Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has ordered that operations be intensified, at all identified illegal mining sites in the province and that decisive action against any illegal activities be taken. The police have also urged community members to assist them in providing information that will lead to the arrest of the suspects. Anyone with information should contact Detective Sergeant Brandon Mphahlele on 067 093 9828 or 072 294 4760 or the crime stop number 0860010111.
ILLEGAL MINING RISE IN LIMPOPO
The portfolio committees on Mineral Resources and Energy, Police and Home Affairs visited the province more than two weeks ago and reported that they were concerned about the high number of illegal mining in the province. The districts that are mostly affected are Mopani, Waterberg, Capricorn and Sekhukhune, where zama zamas are out to get chrome, gold and platinum. The committee visited the province to do an oversight on 10 and 11 September where they met with community members affected by the illegal mining. The Department of Home Affairs also reported that a high number of illegal miners are undocumented foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. In August more than 48 suspected illegal miners were arrested in Sekhukhune and Waterberg districts by the Hawks.
