An illegal miner suspect was killed, and another was rushed to the hospital with injuries, during a crackdown on illicit mining activities on the East Rand.
Image: EMPD
Am illegal miner was killed in a shoot-out with Ekurhuleni Metro Police in Germiston, during an illegal mining operation early on Tuesday. Three others fled the scene, while one was taken to hospital.
Among the suspects, four were South African nationals and one was a Mozambican citizen, all between the ages of 14 and 20, the officials confirmed.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) spokesperson Thabiso Makgato said the shoot-out occurred at 4.30am, in the Marathon informal settlement, Primrose.
The shoot-out happened when the EMPD officers from the Intervention Unit together with other law enforcement agencies were conducting an operation targetting illegal mining in the area.
Makgato said during the operation, officers were confronted by a group of illegal miners who opened fire with a rifle, 9mm and revolver.
“An officer was confronted by a group of males who opened fire at officers. The officer tactically responded, and a shoot-out ensued, which led to one suspect being fatally wounded,” Makgato said.
She said the suspect was declared dead on scene.
“Another suspect was wounded during the shootout and taken to OR Tambo Memorial Hospital by Gauteng Emergency services,” she added.
Unlicensed firearms were seized by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) during a shoot-out with a group of illegal miners.
Image: EMPD
Makgato added that a third suspect, armed with a rifle, fled the scene.
“Three others were apprehended and taken to Primrose SAPS. Unlicensed firearms were seized,” she said.
Makgato added that the scene remains active.
Meanwhile, the acting chief of police Julius Mkhwanazi, emphasised that the police would not allow a repeat of the Stilfontein mine incident in Ekurhuleni.
“Minimum force will be used to tackle these criminal syndicates as they are armed and dangerous,” said Mkhwanazi.
Illegal mining is a major problem in South Africa, especially in provinces such as Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the North West.
The recent Stilfontein mine rescue operation in the North West, highlighted the severity of the problem, where 246 illegal miners were rescued last week from the disused mine.
The expert rescue team also recovered 78 bodies from the deep shaft.
Despite ongoing police operations, zama zamas (illegal miners) continue to target disused and abandoned mines across the country in a bid to make a living.
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