RESIDENTS hide whenever they hear gunshots.
And, they live in fear of another war starting between illegal miners.
Last week, seven people were killed when they were hit by stray bullets while illegal miners were fighting over territory.
Residents told Daily Sun that since the incident, living in Makause squatter camp outside Germiston in Ekurhuleni was hell.
“Bullets fly almost every night, and people don’t trust each other because there are spies all over.
“We end up getting caught in between. This is not really the life we need,” said a resident.
Another resident said most of them made sure they were indoors by 6pm.
“We sometimes don’t think it’s just about their rivalry. It seems they kill because they want us to feel they are controlling this area,” he said.
Daily Sun also spoke to two family members of the shot victims.
One of the victims, Luwani Mudau (34), was shot while coming back from a spaza shop to buy bread.
His family said the incident left them scared.
“We are moving from here because it is not safe and the memory of our brother haunts us.
“He was not part of the gang fights, but today we lost him for good.”
Another family member said their father, who was the only breadwinner, was also killed during the shooting.
“Some of us don’t know where to go. We wish for peace and for the cops flush out these illegal miners.”
Police spokesman Captain Kay Makhubele confirmed last week’s shooting incident, but said no one had been arrested yet.
He said police officers were still looking for the suspects, and urged anyone with information on them to contact CrimeStop on 08600 10111.
