Police destroy zama zama tools
The destruction of 23 tons of illegal mining implements was conducted by an accredited reclamation company.
At the end of October, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of 3 300 South African Defence Force (SANDF) members to illegal mining hotspots across the country.
Operation Prosper was launched with the directive that the SANDF and the SAPS would work hand-in-hand in the fight against underground operations wreaking havoc on the economy and infrastructure.
The deployment has seen an increase in the ongoing intensified operations and will continue until April 28 at a cost of R492m.
On January 5, members of the SANDF Gauteng division, with multi-disciplinary SAPS task teams and private security companies, swooped on the notorious zama zama camp along Golden Drive.
“Law-abiding citizens are tired of blasts and gunfire emanating from these operations,” said Colonel Alstair Subramanian of the SAPS Ekurhuleni District office.
“The effects of illegal mining have far-reaching effects, and it is time to take decisive action to eradicate the scourge of illegal underground activities.”
The recent operation was lauded as a resounding success, with 189 suspected miners brought to book on charges of illegal mining and contravention of the country’s immigration laws.
One suspect will face additional charges after being found in possession of an AK-47 and 21 rounds of live ammunition.
Destruction
Mining implements, which included phendukas, generators and tools, were seized during the blitz.
Representatives of the SAPS district office and the SANDF gathered at the Benoni Police Station on January 9, where contractors from an undisclosed reclamation company loaded 23 tons of confiscated implements, prioritised for destruction.
“Following several round-table discussions, a decision was made that implements seized during concentrated operations must be destroyed by accredited service providers as soon as possible,” said Subramanian.
“Designated SAPS members will observe the loading, transportation and final destruction, and a certificate of destruction must be issued. Every aspect of the process will be supervised to ensure these implements do not find their way back to the miners.
“If we can cripple the operations, which have become increasingly sophisticated, we might even lure out the shepherd tending to these flocks.”
An SANDF member, who wished not to be named, said these blitz operations provide law enforcement agencies with vital intelligence.
“Looking at the design and evolution of an implement such as the phenduka, one can easily see the gas cylinders were not cut and welded by an unskilled labourer,” he said.
“Zama zama activities have evolved, and it is evident that various skills are being commissioned outside their camps.
“We will be knocking on doors and will not leave a single stone unturned to put an end not only to the underground operations but also any operations benefitting from it.”
Subramanian continued by saying that illegal mining activities are no longer solely perpetrated by foreign nationals, as is popularly believed.
“Zimbabwean, Mozambican and Malawian factions are more prevalent. However, many South African nationals are among those arrested,” he said.
The operations will continue.
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