OVER a hundred illegal miners were busted during a joint operation between police and army in Primrose, Germiston, on Friday, 1 December.
And the operation is set to continue.
Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said members of the South African Police Service, South African National Defence Force, Department of Home Affairs and other law enforcement agencies descended on Marathon Informal Settlement in Primrose, Ekurhuleni.
"There has been an outcry about illegal mining and random shooting in the area," said Masondo.
He said during the operation, which started in the morning until late in the afternoon on Friday, 1 December, the team arrested more than 100 undocumented foreign nationals who are also suspected to be involved in illegal mining in the area.
"A number of places where they illegally process gold bearing material were raided and dismantled."
Tools of the trade including gas cylinders, pendukas, explosives, and generators were seized.
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Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela said: "The presence of the SANDF members and other law enforcement agencies is helping us a great deal as we continue to make inroads in the fight against illegal mining in our province."
Masondo said these joint operations, led by senior officers, will continue across the province to deal with the scourge of illegal mining.
Makause, Marathon, and Rasta residents believe these constant raids will bring peace to their squatter camps.
"We have a number of residents and community leaders who lost their lives because of these illegal miners," said resident Thabo Mziyane.
"These zama zamas shoot each other in the squatter and this leads to innocent people losing their lives, leaders who are against illegal mining are also targeted. We are ruled by these illegal," said Albert Peo.
Residents said they appreciate the involvement of the army in the fight against illegal mining.
