Gauteng is winning the war against illegal mining: Lesufi

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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the province is winning the war against illegal mining. Speaking at the Gauteng province’s State of the Province Address at the Nasrec Expo Centre, south of Johannesburg, Lesufi says the deployment of almost 800 soldiers has destabilized illicit mining in the various regions of the province.

“We have broken the backbone of zama zamas in GP and all the soldiers have ensured all those zama zamas are displaced down there. I’m proud that almost 840 zama zamas have been arrested and deported and almost 2 000 miners have been removed from our region of Boksburg, Dobsonville, Kagiso, Khutsong, (and) Krugersdorp.”

However, the Gauteng SOPA got off to a chaotic start, as members of the public attempted to storm the hall where the Legislature had sat.

Members of the EFF also delayed proceedings before the premier could begin his address, calling for the removal of the crime wardens who were stationed at the hall.

“We are not going to be intimidated by amaPanyapanya and the military battalion of Premier Lesufi. They are not members of this house and they are not going to participate. They are supposed to go to the communities and prevent crime as they were deployed to do. What are they doing here? There is no one who is going to save Premier Lesufi in this house, not even the green beans,” says the EFF’s Edwin Mukwevho.

Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature, Ntombi Mekgwe says they will investigate the cause of the chaos that led to the disruption and delay of the State of the Province Address.

Speaker of the legislature, Ntombi Mekgwe, says there’s a need for a full investigation.

“I’m sure as I look around there are no people. What I will do, I’m not saying they were not here, just listen. If you understand English, I’m saying I don’t see people now, but will investigate who are these people and we’ll deal with that particular matter. Can we allow the premier to deal with the speech?”

Lesufi was later allowed to deliver his State of the Province Address.

Video: State of the Province Address – Gauteng: