Zama-zamas on our doorstep

Illegal miners in the area have become so bold that they are now digging for gold within metres of local businesses.
A councillor from the area, Mr Carlos Rebelo, told the Herald this week that the owners of some businesses in
Carletonville’s new industrial area are complaining about the activities of these zama-zamas right on their doorstep.
Last Friday, he showed the Herald some of them digging up the sidewalk on the corner of Kleim and Footwall
Street in the new industrial area.
They only stopped working when the vehicle approached.
‘The business owners have been complaining about how close they are to their premises. It is well known that the zama-zamas also go after metal, they are afraid that they will start stealing from the businesses.
‘I have tried to get help from the police and one of the mines but, so far, nothing has happened. These businesses
employ a lot of people and many of them stand to lose their jobs if these places were to close,’ he says.
From a photo from one of the businessmen in the area, one can see the zama-zamas apparently hiding behind
a row of gum trees. Not only have they set up camp, they also appear to be mining there.
The photo shows a lot of water near these activities, presumably from a pipe that they have broken to access the water they need for the mining.
The bush in which they are hiding separates the industrial area from Boundary Street. The illegal miners therefore also pose a danger to residents of this street and surrounding areas.
There is evidence that the zama-zamas are also digging behind the ramp that the business people have put up
to load the forklifts.
‘We are especially worried that their numbers will grow if nothing is done about the problem, increasing the risk
to our businesses,’ said one of the businesses owners.
Rebelo took the Herald to another leak next to the extension of Haulage Street to the Bank road. Pieces of stripped rubber from electrical cables close by heightens the suspicion that the damage was caused by the same culprits.
The communications officer of the SAPS in Carletonville, WO Peter Masoea says the police are aware of the
problem and have a plan and mechanisms in place to deal with it soon.
When the Herald asked the Merafong City Local Municipality what it intends to do about the problem, a spokesperson acknowledged that the industrial area falls within the boundaries of Merafong City.
‘However, the municipality alone does not have the specialised manpower required to deal with armed zamazamas.
There will, therefore, have to be cooperation between various government agencies to address this issue.
Through the security cluster, the municipality will develop a strategy to address the issue in the shortest timeframe
possible,’ he said.