Zamimpilo settlement residents urge government intervention as illegal mining violence rises

Residents in the Zamimpilo informal settlement, near Riverlea, south of Johannesburg, have described life in the area as akin to being in a war zone.

This comes after yet another shooting between illegal miners and some members of the community and the police, that resulted in the death of a 59-year-old bystander, Jerome Lottering.

Lottering is said to have died in the crossfire that took place on Tuesday night.

His body was only collected at midday on Wednesday, as his emotional 39-year-old daughter, Ronnel, and his widow, Martha, looked on amid calls for the police and government to intervene in the spate of violent incidents in the area.

Police were conducting a routine patrol when they spotted a Toyota bakkie with three occupants that looked suspicious on Tuesday. 

Gauteng police spokesperson, Mavela Masondo, said: "The police tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver ignored them and sped off.  A chase ensued, and the suspects turned into the Zamimpilo informal settlement. As the police searched for the suspects, they were shot at by people in the informal settlement, and they returned fire. No injuries were reported during that shootout, and police are still looking for the suspects."

With illegal zama zamas reported to have turned the notorious informal settlement into a warzone due to regular shooting incidents between rivalling illegal miners, residents have pleaded with the government to intervene by shutting down the settlement and moving them to better housing conditions elsewhere.

"We do not feel safe here due to the constant gunfire by illegal miners, who have turned this place into a complete war zone.

"We can't even go to church, and last night was yet another episode of constant shooting which started just after 6pm and lasted until after 9pm," said one of the residents who did not want to be named.

Some residents accused the police of taking bribes from the same illegal miners who have turned the place upside down.

According to ward councillor Mzimelelo Lobi, attempts to relocate the residents have stalled because some of the residents, who have benefited from government interventions, have returned to the informal settlement after renting out some of their properties to foreigners in Fleurhof and other areas.

"There have been numerous attempts to relocate the residents of this informal settlement, but they themselves are to blame because they rent out their homes to foreign nationals and return to the same place they are being removed," Lobi said.

Masondo urged members of the community to report incidents of corruption involving the police, saying :"We are aware of what the community is alleging, and we urge them to report these alleged incidents to us."

The police indicated that they have since opened a case of murder.

Cape Argus