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Grootvlei ricochets

Grootvlei mines have become a concern for residents in the area, gun fire can be heard on a daily basis echoing from the mines and surrounding suburbs near the mine.

The echo of gunfire has become the norm for residents living in the suburbs around Grootvlei mine as illegal mining continues despite the Fidelity Security guards patrolling the mine’s grounds and regular raids and arrests made by the Springs police.

Strubenvale resident Ben Lindeque says the situation is out of hand and, after his gardener found a bullet in his garden, he is even more concerned about how the shootings will affect his family.

Residents living close the mine fear that stray bullets might claim an innocent life if something isn’t done soon to stop the random shooting.

Lindeque, who moved from Pretoria two years ago, lives about a kilometre from the mine and says he thought there was a shooting range in the area.

He was shocked when his neighbour, Johan Booysen, told him that there wasn’t a shooting range and that the shots he heard was coming from the mine.

Lindeque read the previous article in the Advertiser concerning the shooting, Gunning for Grootvlei (July 4), and was shocked at the police’s response.

As a former policeman, he says it is ludicrous that the police claim that they are unable to enter the mine because it is private property.

The 9mm bullet that Ben Lindque's gardener found in his yard.
The 9mm bullet that Ben Lindque’s gardener found in his yard.

“If someone had to fire shots in their house or garden, and the police happen to drive past, they have permission to enter the property. It is their duty to.”

In Lindeque’s point of view, the police can enter the mine even if it’s not reported, or if they have received a letter from the owner of the mine, that trespassing is taking place.

Since the mine has already contracted a security company to curb this problem, “this shows that the company does not have the resources, nor the man power to stop this problem,” says Lindeque.

When asked what else the police can do to combat this problem, he says they should organise a special task force on a temporary basis until the situation of illegal mining is solved.”

Booysen says the gunfire is more prominent in the early hours of the morning.

Strubenvale is a relatively quiet neighbourhood, and both Booysen and Lindeque agreed that the gunfire was not always prominent, but started around the end of last year.

“You can ask anyone who stays in this area, they will all tell you that the gunfire is persistent, and that they fear for their lives and the safety of their children,” says Booysen.

Lindeque and Booysen say their fear is real as they know that the bullets being shot will have to land somewhere, and one had already landed in Lindeque’s garden.

Springs police spokesman Captain Johannes Ramphora says that if a resident finds a bullet which they believe to have come from the miners, they should hand it over to Springs police to compare with bullets found in possession of illegal miners.

“We have confiscated various firearms allegedly used by illegal miners on Fidelity guards and other illegal miners,” he says.

From this police may be able to identify the origins of the bullets.

If you have any information regarding the shots being fired or the illegal mining taking place, contact the Springs police on 011 365 5700/19/20 or Capt Ramphora on 079 694 6936.

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