Police Minister Bheki Cele was among the various stakeholders who cracked down on illegal miners and arrested more than 40 zama-zamas at a mine dump on the R28 between Randfontein and Krugersdorp this morning. One illegal miner was killed during a gun battle.

The operation forms part of the ministry’s efforts to root out the problems within the different communities throughout the country after promising to clamp down on their ‘big bosses’.

Speaking to the Randfontein Herald and Krugersdorp News at the scene, the minister said dozens of pieces of mining equipment and gold-bearing material were also recovered at the mine dump.

“I doubt that these guys found their way down here on their own. It looks like there’s some form of human trafficking,” Cele said, adding they might be clamping down on the men on the ground, but they now needed to move to the top and the ‘big fish’.

Police also seem to have upped their game and are taking a no-nonsense approach on the West Rand following the tragedy in West Village where a film crew was attacked and robbed, and eight women raped by illegal miners.

Shawn Herbst from Netcare 911 said in a statement that Netcare 911 responded to a shooting at an unused mine off the R28 in Luipaardsvlei this afternoon.

He says that during a gun battle between zama-zamas and authorities, an illegal miner was shot in the head after pointing a firearm at police. He was declared dead on the scene.

“Multiple other illegal miners were injured while trying to escape,” says Herbst.

For most of the morning, voice notes and notifications have been doing the rounds warning motorists to avoid the R28 due to the operations. It seems the road is now clear, but motorists have been advised to remain cautious.