One illegal miner has been arrested for attempted murder in Riverlea, Joburg following a shoot-out with members of the South African Police Service’s National Intervention Unit (NIU).
The specialised teams that had been deployed in the area following the gun conflicts that had turned Riverlea into a “warzone” earlier this month came under fire from zama zamas during patrols on Monday, 14 August at around 5 p.m.
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According to police spokesman Brigadier Brenda Muridili, the NIU members were patrolling Main Reef Road in Langlaagte when they came across six men carrying food parcels into George Harrison Park, a well-known place for illegal mining.
“The members followed and when the men approached an open cast mine they ran into a hole. Shots were fired towards the members from the hole and they retaliated. One illegal miner was arrested while the others managed to get away.”
Muridili stated that no NIU members or suspects were injured during the shoot-out.
The shooting has been reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
Muridili further stated that multiple arrests had occurred since the unit’s deployment.
“The deployment of National Specialised Units have since the 2nd of August 2023 resulted in the arrest of over 200 people in Langlaagte, 187 of those are undocumented immigrants involved in illegal mining activities.
“The police have seized illegal mining equipment, explosives as well as eight firearms and ammunition. The operations will continue until the area has been stabilised,” Muridili said.
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Police Minister Bheki Cele stated earlier this month that specialised police units had been dispatched to the region to apprehend illegal miners and put an end to illegal mining operations.
“Our focus is to ensure law and order is restored in the area. We cannot have a situation where communities live in fear. we are going to deal decisively with these criminals,” Cele said.
