1 Body of Zama Zama Found, SAPS Declare Riverlea Are Illegal Miners’ HQ Over 5 Rifles, SA Expresses Doubt

• South Africa has had a rising problem with illegal miners, aka zama zamas, and Gauteng's police commissioner is confident they've made a breakthrough
• Authorities in Johannesburg have indicated that the headquarters for the illegal mining was in Riverlea
• Many people were taken aback by the details of how they concluded that zama zamas were based in Riverlea

JOHANNESBURG-Afterr a shootout in Riverlea between illegal miner, the latest news left South Africans in arms. Gauteng police commissioner Elias Mawela spoke to the media, saying they found the operational ground of zama zamas.

Illegal miners have become a problem, as many have been accused of various criminal activities. South Africans were not convinced that the police actually found the headquarters.

Read also

Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF accused of anti-democratic behaviour after researchers forcibly expelled as elections loom

Revierlea area occupied by zama zamas identified asthe main area of operation

eNCA reported that police found the body of an illegal miner. This comes after a shootout that took place in the last week of July 2023, where five bodies were found.

Although the Johannesburg Metro Police Department in forensic scientists were on the scene, authorities were still unsure how many bodies were in the mineshaft.

Gauteng police commissioner explains Riverlea mine shaft discoveries

In the same area, the police commissioner recently announced, in a video by eNCA, that they suspect they found the headquarters where the illegal miners worked from. Elias Mawela said they found guns and explosives in a mine shaft during a law enforcement operation. He claimed:

Read also

JMPD uncover Zama Zama hide out in mine near Roodepoort, viral video exposes depths of illegal operation

"They (zama zamas) delivered fire arms: five rifles, a sniper rifle, a pistol, a lot of explosives and ammunition. They've (police) discovered what I can call the headquarters of the zama zamas."

South Africans not convinced old Riverlea mine is zama zama HQ

Many people are fed up with crime in South Africa. Online users commented that they were not confident that the police found the main place of operation for illegal miners.

Lulu Chilwane commented:

"Elections fever."

Yaveshan Naidoo added:

"I love how the police are doing their job close to election time."

Tshediso JavaGuava Mosia said:

"Five rifles can make police declare that as a headquarter of zama zamas."

Evans Yolanda was unconvinced:

"He is dreaming this Mawela."

Erin Matt wrote:

"Only five rifles, jiki jiki we found a headquarters please maan, this sounds like an attempt to pull out."

Arrested zama zama insists he's a pawn, criticises SAPS for not nabbing kingpins

Read also

Metro police cops film the demolition of newly constructed house, video upset SA netizens

Briefly News previously reported that suspected illegal miners arrested in the Zimimpilo informal settlement next to Riverlea, Johannesburg, have accused the authorities of targeting zama zamas.

Three men were arrested, on Thursday, 3 August, after emerging from a hole that police had previously closed during an operation to curb illegal mining activities in Riverlea.

One of the zama zama harshly criticised the police claiming they were not going after the masterminds of the illegal mining operation even though their identities were known, News24 reported.

Source: Briefly News