TWO gangs of Basotho are fighting over an old mine shaft.
The fighting over the shaft, seen as highly profitable by zama zamas, has left three people dead and two injured.
One group of zama zamas wants the other to leave, saying they had had their turn to eat.
Residents of the Soul City squatter camp in Kagiso, Mogale City, have had enough of the fighting and want it to stop.
They said gunshots rang out in the squatter camp every night as the two groups fought over territory. They felt the battle was putting their lives in danger.
“We sleep under the bed to avoid being shot. This is a scary place to live,” said gogo Magdeline Lesego (72).
“We had been living in peace but we now fear for our lives since this fighting started.”
Another resident, Patrick Manzi (46), said on Saturday members of one of the Basotho gangs came looking for a man at his shack.
“They were aggressive when they stormed into the yard. They went around the shack firing shots, calling his name. They kicked the door open but luckily the man was not there,” he said.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said Kagiso cops had launched a manhunt after three unknown men were shot dead. Two others sustained multiple stab wounds to their heads and upper bodies.
“We’re appealing to anyone with information that will lead to the arrests of the perpetrators to call Kagiso police on 011 696 9059/9065/9124 or CrimeStop on 086 001 0111. You can also use our SMS line 32211 and remain anonymous,” said Peters.
