Police arrested 40 individuals during a weekday Operation Shanela on Thursday, February 5.

This follows a surge in illegal mining-related violence in the area in recent months that saw gun battles being waged almost daily between warring zama zama factions fighting for control of the territory.

The surge in gun violence spilt over onto the streets of Roodepoort CBD earlier in January, prompting a protest march last weekend, with residents handing over a memorandum of demands to Roodepoort police.

The Roodepoort Record has reported extensively on several zama zama shootings over the past number of weeks, including one incident where the body of a man was found along Randfontein Road recently.

The operation was led by the police’s acting district commissioner for Johannesburg, Brigadier Egen Moodley. It included a road block at the corners of Randfontein Road and Nick Toomey Boulevard, an alcohol outlet compliance inspection, and police patrols of six known illegal mining sites.

According to Johannesburg District communications co-ordinator, Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlhane, the operation was conducted by the police in cooperation with JMPD, the Department of Home Affairs, the Roodepoort CPF, and private security companies.

Of the 40 arrests, 35 were illegal immigrants, two for possession of drugs, one for malicious property damage, and one for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

According to the police’s Johannesburg District corporate communications co-ordinator, Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlhane, police will continue with these operations to ensure that communities are and feel safe.