JOHANNESBURG - Tensions remain high in Mohlakeng on the West Rand where residents have once again gone to mine dumps - where they believe zama zamas operate illegally.
Community members in parts of the West Rand say they will not heed a call by police Minister Bheki Cele to stay calm. Instead, residents have mobilised themselves to not only go house to house, and root out the illegal miners, but to also close off the non-operational mine dumps in the area. Public Order Police have been deployed, to try and stop residents from blocking roads in the area.
The West Rand has been rocked by protests since last week - aimed at finding the groups known as Zama Zamas.The body of a suspected illegal miner was found in Kagiso during demonstrations last week.
The Police Minister and Gauteng Premier David Makhura spent two days on the West Rand hearing frustrations, and pleas for better police service, from residents in West Village and Kagiso.
Cele has promised to deploy a tactical response unit known as Amaberete to clamp down on illegal mining.
" The Zama Zama's began to terrorise the community and that prompted the community to organise itself and fight to close all the holes that are existing in those mining dumps," said Rand West City municipal spokesperson Tshidiso Tlharipe.
