Illegal miners, cops clash
2009-09-17 08:17
Johannesburg - Daily clashes between police and illegal miners were common in Mpumalanga's Barberton area, said Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu on Wednesday.
"Inter-gang fights and shootouts are now a daily occurrence in this area [Barberton, Mpumalanga]. Confrontations between illegal miners, the police and security personnel are becoming more frequent," she told the National Council of Provinces, according to a copy of her speech.
The illegal miners, or zama-zamas, were armed and abducted legal miners to use as human shields in clashes with police.
"These illegal diggers are armed and dangerous. They are openly carrying a huge number of weapons, including AK47s and 9mm pistols."
In Welkom in the Free State, booby traps using explosives had been set for police and security personnel.
"Illicit mining is also spawning other illegal activities, including child prostitution and child labour. As if this was not enough, good citizens who report these illegal activities to the authorities are subjected to serious threats and harassment."
Highly organised, well-resourced syndicates raked in billions of rands and used legal miners to transport food and other necessities like explosives and equipment, she said.
Local gangs helped the syndicates by bribing legal miners and recruiting diggers from neighbouring countries like Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The gangs further provided legal support to arrested illegal miners.
Once they had gold, an exporter working with the syndicate ensured it was smuggled out of the country, which negatively affected the country's economy.
"The smuggled gold then changes hands to intermediaries or front companies and ends up with international buyers," Shabangu said.
In a bid to combat these activities, an illegal mining forum comprising police, community leaders, government, mining companies and the department had been set up. There were now reports that illegal mining was starting on Gauteng's West Rand mines.
She said Cabinet has also resolved that the newly formed Hawks be roped in to help fight the criminal activities.
Police and prosecutors would also be investigated to see if they were not helping the syndicates.
Mpumalanga and Free State police tasked with handling the illegal mining operations were not immediately available for comment.
- SAPA