Endangered People | Riverlea | 24 May 2024

JOHANNESBURG - In part three of our Endangered People special feature, we examine Riverlea in Johannesburg - another community living in fear of crime and violence.

Aside from ongoing battles with illegal miners, commonly known as zama zamas, this community has seen rising levels of gang violence in recent months. 

Over the past few years Riverlea has become a hotbed of illegal mining.

Zama zamas, who dig up abandoned mine shafts, have become a menace to this community.

That’s despite numerous attempts by the SAPS and government to curb this deadly practice. But unchecked unemployment levels here have birthed another threat.

We drove through the streets of Riverlea just minutes after a reported shooting in broad daylight.

 Fortunately, there were no casualties, but this was not the case on the third of May in this street.

Cecil Radley remembers the day when unknown gunmen opened fire on his home, which claimed the lives of two of his children.

Within seconds of entering Riverlea, it’s clear that the small suburb has been left to ruin.

Rubble is strewn across open fields that have been neglected for years.

Then there are the running battles between gangs that have made these streets deadly for those who live here.

A recent event hosted by Welcome Witbooi, a former gang boss turned activist, drew mothers who have all lost loved ones to gang violence to share their grief.