THE Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has called for the implementation of more stringent measures to end the escalating lawlessness and mayhem caused by illegal mining in the Province.
This comes after five bodies of suspected illegal miners were discovered with gunshot wounds in Riverlea on Sunday. It is alleged that the five men were part of a gang of foreign illegal miners which got involved in a gun battle with a rival gang.
Earlier this month, the Committee made calls to Law Enforcement Agencies operating in the Province to establish dedicated and specialized units that will see the complete eradication of illegal mining in Gauteng after 17 people died in Boksburg as a result of illegal mining activities.
The recent Riverlea incident is a clear indication that little has been done since the call made by the Committee to end illegal mining in the Province. Law Enforcement Agencies in the Province appears to be powerless and defeated in their fight against illegal mining.
The Committee has therefore resolved to call on the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety together with the Provincial Police Commissioner to appear before it and give an account on what measures are being put in place to end illegal mining in the Province.
These measures must have clear action plans and timelines, as the people of Gauteng can no longer afford to live in fear due to the so called zama zamas who are in their majority illegal foreign nationals.
The safety of citizens should be a priority and we cannot allow lawlessness to continue unabated.
The Committee views illegal mining as a form of economic sabotage beyond just tax evasion, but also illicit financial flows with a devastating negative effect on the already struggling South African economy. It is also critical to establish the alleged involvement of mining companies in illegal mining and their contribution to bringing an end to this.
The Committee further calls upon the Department of Mineral Resources to assist in holding mining companies that previously owned these mines legally obligated and accountable in taking full responsibility of rehabilitating them.
As part of a heightened response the Committee will be writing to the President of the Republic and Premier of Gauteng to consider the deployment of Members of the South African National Defence Force to end the scourge of illegal mining in the Province once and for all.
Image (Police on site following five bodies were discovered in Riverlea on Sunday).
