Cape Town – Police Minister Bheki Cele has outlined a multifaceted approach to address the issue of illegal mining, particularly involving “zama zamas”, during a briefing by the African National Congress (ANC).
Cele categorised zama zamas into five levels, with the most sophisticated being the “middle class” involved in illegal mining operations.
Nine suspects were arrested, including six foreign nationals and three South Africans, who lived in extravagant houses with expensive furniture and luxury cars, he said.
“We have moved up to the middle level. We have arrested nine people who are middle class of some form in the zama zamas.
“Those people own beautiful houses… When we visited their houses in Carletonville, all the furniture is imported… it’s Italian furniture in there. In their yards, there are some few Lamborghinis parked and you realise that these are big guns,” Cele said on Monday.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has already seized assets worth R38 million, and the suspects are facing legal action.
South Africa is working to combat illegal mining in various provinces and is engaging with the Lesotho government to address illegal immigration issues.
This comes after a tragedy in which 31 suspected illegal miners, believed to be from Lesotho, lost their lives at a mine in Free State, causing tensions between the two countries.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
