The bodies of eight suspected illegal miners (zama zamas) were found in Roodepoort yesterday morning.

According to Johannesburg District SAPS communications officer Captain Tsietsi Phora, Florida police were notified at around 06:30 by a passer-by of a body found in the open veld just off Robert Road in Robertville.

“The police investigated and came across two bodies behind a spaza shop in the vicinity of Robert and Spencer Road. Our officers, upon doing a thorough inspection of the area, came across a further six bodies with gunshot wounds just off Nadine Street.”

The JHB K9 Search and Rescue Unit was called in to help locate bodies.

Upon the Roodepoort Record’s arrival, five bodies were strewn throughout the veld and were found along the footpath that runs through the veld behind the factories.

Phora says it is suspected the incident is related to illegal mining, but would not confirm whether it was a case of illegal miners fighting over territory, saying that this would form part of the investigation.

“Eight cases of murder have been opened and are currently being investigated by police,” he adds.

The newspaper received confirmation from the police’s provincial spokesperson, Colonel Masondo, that there is an ongoing feud between factions of zama zamas, and that these incidents are suspected to be related to that.

This comes barely a week after another suspected illegal miner was found killed and burnt at the infamous ‘big shaft’ in the same vicinity.

According to residents, the incident occurred early on Monday evening.

The publication spoke to a local shopkeeper who runs a fast food outlet along Nadine Street, and was told that violence has escalated in the area of late.

“We were just about to close last night when the shooting erupted. It was just before 18:00. I rushed to close our metal roller-shutter doors as we could hear bullets flying everywhere. This is the third time that this has happened in just over a week.”