COE rehabilitates Payneville kraal after illegal gold rush
The City of Ekurhuleni has started rehabilitating land at a Payneville kraal after a week-long illegal gold rush, with three arrests made and monitoring now in place.
The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) visited the kraal in Payneville, Gugulethu Section, on February 20 to begin rehabilitating the land after the soil was damaged during a week-long gold rush.
This followed a joint operation by the SAPS, EMPD and the city on February 19, during which illegal mining activities were halted. Three people were arrested during the operation.
“Spades, wheelbarrows, water pumps and hammers were seized,” said provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.
The Coe said, “The opened trenches have been sealed and compacted with soil, and the residents were educated about the dangers of illegal mining in the residential area.”
The city further advised residents who own livestock to apply to lease land owned by the municipality.
“EMPD working with SAPS will monitor the area until the situation stabilises,” the CoE said.
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