Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela does not rule out the possibility that some of the police officers are working with illegal miners popularly known as Zama-Zamas.
Mawela together with the Tactical Response Team (TRT) Amabherethe, crime prevention wardens and other law enforcement officers spent Thursday raiding mine shafts and informal settlements rooting out illegal miners.
Mawela led the crackdown in Jerusalema, Florida Mine Shaft and New Canada following complaints by residents that they were being terrorised by groups of illegal miners who operated in abandoned mine shafts in the west of Johannesburg.
In most mine shafts the police were told there were illegal miners but when they arrived they found no one.
Mawela said there is a risk that the police are informing the illegal miners about their operations.
“Where there is a human element there is a risk. We can’t rule that (police working with zama zamas). Working with the broader society will assist to identify officers colluding with illegal miners. Ultimately, we will deal with those officers,” Mawela promised.
Mawela said the operation led to the arrest of 45 illegal miners at Jerusalema informal settlement in Florida.
“Others were found inside shacks that had turned into gold-processing areas. Police also uncovered holes inside some shacks. The holes were covered with beds. We are happy with what we have achieved, right now the total is 45, mainly they are undocumented people and some were found in those shacks where the tools of trade were found, phendukas, generators that they are using,” he said.
A spaza shop and two illegal shebeens believed to be supplying illegal miners with food, and beverages were raided and closed.
