Illegal mining in Florida, Johannesburg, has moved dangerously close to residential homes, sparking fears of nightly gunfire, crime, and alleged official collusion.

The Roodepoort Record has reported repeatedly on violence between rival zama zama factions in the southernmost suburbs of Roodepoort and Florida, as well as shooting incidents involving local security companies, police and illegal miners.

Residents say these incidents have become more frequent and brazen over the past year, with illegal mining activity encroaching on residential areas, reports Roodepoort Record.

The issue came to a head during a community meeting convened by the Florida South Residents Association and the Florida Community Police Forum (CPF) last week. Residents confronted police over what they described as the rapid escalation of illegal mining in the area and questioned whether authorities are doing enough to protect communities.

Residents too afraid to check nighttime noises

Esperanza resident Sybel Strydom said residents had become too afraid to investigate suspicious noises outside their homes at night.

“We live in daily fear of the zama zamas,” she said.

“When you hear something outside at night, you don’t dare go outside to check what it was. All you can do is remain indoors and hope that you don’t discover something stolen or broken when you come out in the morning.”

Fellow Esperanza resident Tyson Mdluli said the safety of his family was a growing concern.

“The shooting starts almost every night as soon as it gets dark.

“Sometimes it is somewhere in the veld, but it often sounds very close to the houses.”

Residents also complained about incessant digging throughout the night and raised concerns that illegal mining has become so entrenched that authorities have had to call on the military to assist with controlling the situation.

Ward 70 councillor Caleb Finn offered to convene a meeting involving all relevant stakeholders to discuss measures to curb illegal mining in Florida.

CPF defends police response tactics

Florida CPF chairperson Riaz Jogee defended police officers against criticism that they were failing to respond effectively to zama zama activity.

He told residents that officers could not be expected to pursue illegal miners blindly into dark and potentially dangerous areas.

“Police officers’ duty is first and foremost to ensure the safety of residents,” he said.

“It is not to run blindly into the dark veld to try and catch the zamas.

“They respond to the incident and ensure that the residents are safe. Catching the perpetrators is secondary to the safety of residents.”

Jogee also acknowledged allegations of corruption within the police and urged residents with information about suspected corrupt officers to come forward, even anonymously.

Residents who can do so safely should record photographic or video evidence of police interacting with illegal miners, he said, or note the registration number of vehicles involved, together with the date and time.

Police urge community to report corruption

Johannesburg District communications co-ordinator Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlane and Florida Police Station Commander Colonel Frans Marwheshe responded to questions from the Roodepoort Record on August 28.

They acknowledged the community’s allegations of police collaboration with illegal miners and similarly urged residents to provide information that could assist authorities in investigating suspected corruption.

“We take allegations of criminal conduct seriously, and we urge residents to make use of any of our reporting platforms to help bring guilty parties to book,” Tshetlane said.

For residents, however, the issue is no longer confined to abandoned mine workings or isolated incidents. They say the violence and illegal mining activity are increasingly becoming part of everyday life in areas where families live.

Florida South Residents Association chairperson Rodney Churchyard said the association would hold authorities to account over their handling of illegal mining in the area.

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