Residents living throughout the southern suburbs of Florida say they are under siege from illegal miners.

The Roodepoort Record has reported on numerous occasions about ongoing violence between zama zama factions throughout the southernmost suburbs of Roodepoort and Florida, as well as shooting incidents involving local security companies, the police, and illegal miners that have become more frequent and brazen over the past year, often encroaching into residential areas.

This was one of the problems discussed during a community meeting called by the Florida South Residents Association and the Florida Community Police Forum (CPF) on August 26, where residents were set to engage with the police regarding their concerns about widespread illegal mining, which has escalated rapidly in the area.

Residents do not feel safe

Residents voiced their concerns that illegal mining has become so deeply entrenched in the area that police had to call on the military to help them control it.

“We live in daily fear of the zama zamas,” said Esperanza resident Sybel Strydom.

“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.”

Tyson Mdluli, who also resides in Esperanza, said his family is not safe.

“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.”

• Also read: Roodepoort residents march against zama zamas

CPF weighs in

Addressing complaints that police are not responding effectively to incidents regarding zama zama activity, Florida CPF chairperson Riaz Jogee, in defence of Florida police, told residents at the meeting that they cannot expect police officers on patrol to run into the veld after illegal miners.

“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 acknowledged accusations from residents of corruption in police ranks, and encouraged residents to come forward with any information that can help identify corrupt officers, even if they do so anonymously.

“Residents can, if it is safe to do so, take photographs or video footage of police interacting with illegal miners, or just write down the registration number of the vehicle involved, being careful to note the time and date.”

Residents also complained of incessant digging at all hours of the night.

Police responds

Johannesburg District communications co-ordinator, Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshetlane and Florida Police Station Commander Colonel Frans Marwheshe, in reply to questions posed by the Record on August 28, acknowledged the community’s allegations of police collaboration with illegal miners, and encouraged residents to come forward with any information that can help them to root out 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.

She reiterated that corruption can be reported by calling the Crime Stop line on 08600 10111, the SAPS Anti-corruption hotline on 0800 701 701, or by downloading the MySAPS App to report anonymously.