Zama zamas on the rise as mining houses shut down

JOHANNESBURG - Deal with zama zamas or else!

That's the message of Riverlea residents to Police Minister Bheki Cele.

They're threatening to take the law into their own hands if police fail to remove illegal miners permanently.

Recent events have only highlighted an issue that has been plaguing many communities across the country as illegal -- often undocumented -- migrants do whatever it takes to continue with their underground mining operations.

The Riverlea community has been thrust into the spotlight with illegal miners blamed for terrorising the community.

The sound of gunfire has become the norm during early evening, as the illegal miners fight their turf wars within the community.

The local mining forum says the illegal mining turf wars have deep roots.

Riverlea has been flooded by illegal miners because of its history and geographical location.

It's just one of many areas where the zama zamas dominate, including Krugersdorp.

Time and again police conduct random raids at these informal settlements and come out empty-handed.

A local councillor believes police corruption plays a big role in the growth of illegal mining.

Law enforcement authorities are aware of the corruption and just how dangerous the illegal miners are.

There are suggestions that mining companies abandoning mine shafts -- which are no longer viable for large-scale industrial mining -- is part of of the illegal mining problem.

The chief executive of the Federation for Sustainable Environment says many mining companies deliberately cut corners when they make their profits.

More often than not, the minerals mined by illegal miners end up at scrap metal dealers.

With the decline of mining, and as mining companies make it out of the country, the suggestion is that illegal mining can only grow.

For areas like Riverlea and many others across the country, desperate interventions are needed to put an end to illegal mining.

* eNCA’s Aviwe Mtila reports.