The illegal mining phenomenon continues to rear its ugly head in other parts of the North West province. Eastern parts of the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality are also experiencing the rising incidents of illegal mining in the recent years.
The Baphalane Traditional Council led by Kgosi Mmanotshe Ramokoka has condemned illegal mining of Chrome in Witrantjie village, which earlier resulted in the exchange of fire between employees of two private security companies, which the police said resulted in three males sustaining serious injuries.
Police have confirmed that a video doing the rounds on social media depicts a confrontation between residents and illegal Chrome miners in Witranjie which is a village under the control of the Baphalane Traditional Council. “The Traditional Council has distanced itself from the acts of criminality,” said Ramokoka.
In addition, he called on the country’s law enforcement agencies to assist his council eradicate the mushrooming of zama zama’s on his land. “We are appealing to the police to come and assist us as our communities are caught in a crossfire between these criminals,” said Kgosi Ramokoka.
He urged the community to refrain from leasing their land to the illegal miners, with the promise of money, as it has caused instability in Witranjie where people were forced to pick up arms against zama zama’s illegally extracting chrome from their land. Meanwhile, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, said illegal mining is an “attack on the economy,” with the illicit precious metal trade estimated at least R60 billion in 2024.
