THE zama zamas continue to feel the heat as police are intensifying raids to fight illegal mining.
Over the weekend, Ekurhuleni cops and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) disrupted the illegal miners' activities during their operations in Benoni, Ekurhuleni.
About 202 suspects were arrested, and a suspect who guards the zama zamas as they work underground was bust after being found in possession of an AK-47 rifle with a magazine and 21 live ammunition.
Captain Nelda Sekgobela said about 10 gas bottles, 202 crush pots, 198 stampers, six generators, explosives, superpower 90 blasting, connector capped fuse, detonating cords, shovels, petrol container, cutting touches and wheelie bins were also seized.
While in Dawn Park, the Ekurhuleni district crime intelligence, Dawn Park police, Vispol, Thatha Zonke and Yizo Yizo Crimes fighting units, and amaPanyaza acted on a tip-off regarding a zama zama who owned an unlicenced firearm.
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An intelligence-driven operation was conducted, and a 33-year-old man was found at Windmill Park, Umnyango Street in Dawn Park.
The suspect was found with a 9mm gun with a magazine and nine live ammunition, and this makes it the sixth unlicenced firearm seized from zama zamas in Ekurhuleni since Friday, 5 January.
The other four unlicenced firearms were recovered in the Reiger Park area, where five suspects were allegedly involved in robbing the community.
Ekurhuleni district commissioner Major-General Anna Sithole praised the efforts of the teams involved in ensuring that the zama zamas are not doing as they wish.
