BRITS POS - BRITS - A 65-year-old home owner and nine accomplices appeared before the Rustenburg Magistrates Court on Monday, 9 September, for illegal mining, tampering with and/or damaging of essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen goods.
They are known as Zama zamas – they are illegal artisanal miners in South Africa who occupy closed or operational mines to mine for minerals such as gold, iron ore, coal, and manganese.
The term Zama zama loosely translates to “Take a chance’ in isiZulu and they use rudimentary tools and explosives for mining. (Wikipedia)
“The male home owner was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning, 5 September, at Nkandla informal settlement near Khuseleka 1 mine that mines platinum by Tlhabane Visible Policing, Royal Bafokeng Tactical Team and Rustenburg Public Safety,” says Lt Col Amanda Funani, SAPS North West spokesperson.
“Reports suggest that acting on a tip-off, the team arrested two suspects, aged 65 and 31, for illegal mining, tampering with and/or damaging of essential infrastructure and possession of suspected stolen goods.”
It is alleged that the home owner (65) who resides with his family, used and allowed a group of men to utilise one of the bedrooms as an entrance to the nearby Khuseleka 1 mine shaft. Upon noticing the police, an unconfirmed number of men entered and disappeared into the man-made hole in the bedroom, while the other two including the owner of the house, were arrested.
With the assistance of the mine security team, some of the mine property and other equipment were found inside the house.
Eight more of these zama-zamas between the ages of 16 and 45 were arrested between Friday, 6 and Saturday, 7 September. The suspects hid underground, trying to evade arrest, 5 September. It is alleged they saw the police coming into the house at Tlhabane, a house that they used to enter Khuseleka 1 mine shaft. They were arrested when they decided to return above ground. Of the 10 arrested suspects, four are South Africans, and six are foreign nationals.
