JOHANNESBURG - Several parliamentary committees - who conducted an oversight visit to disused mines in Johannesburg – have been shocked by the sheer scale of illegal mining.
Sunday's visit is the first step in government’s strategy to end the dangerous trade.
The debate about illegal miners has been brought into sharp focus recently.
This follows the horrific gang rape of eight women at a disused mine in Krugersdorp in July and last week’s discovery of ten bodies near Roodepoort - believed to be zama zamas.
An oversight visit by multiple portfolio committees - including mineral resources, energy and home affairs - is hoped to stop illegal miners in their tracks.
During their tour, parliamentarians saw first-hand the reach of illegal mining and its complex network of players.
Allegations of police and army personnel’s participation within this network has dampened hopes of ending the scourge.
On Monday morning, 10 alleged kingpins were nabbed and police have their sights on more arrests.
Communities living in the area where the 10 bodies were found in Gauteng are at their wits’ end.
They’re demanding that actions be implemented urgently to keep people safe - instead of becoming just another empty oversight visit.
Meanwhile, the portfolio committee on home affairs believes our borders remain a huge problem.
Committees will continue their site visits in other provinces, with Mpumalanga next in line.
Once concluded, the committees will begin planning tactful interventions to the problem.