Zama-zamas arrested in Pilgrim’s Rest

Foreign nationals, who include citizens from Mozambique, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, are among the suspected zama-zamas arrested in Pilgrim’s Rest, Mpumalanga. Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and South African Police Service (SAPS) raided a suspected illegal operation in this old mining town.

Two weeks ago, police retreated during a similar operation, after heavily armed illegal miners pushed back at a town under siege where shameless illegal miners are operating everywhere, spoiling the provincial heritage site which has a very colourful and exciting history.

The area attracted prospectors looking for gold in 1873. Now, illegal miners have descended on the town.

Police, accompanied by the soldiers, returned to tackle the problem. The miners were tracked from above and at ground level.

Several suspected illegal miners were nabbed.

“I must indicate that clearly there is a lot of them. This will not be an end today. We are still going to come back and do the operation. As far as the success is concern, I can say that they will be back again and they will proceed with whatever they are doing and we need to close those who are suppliers,” says Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, Acting Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner.

A helicopter hovered above the operation, trying to spot the brazen illegal miners. Some of whom were armed to the teeth.

“We are going to pay special attention and deal with this matter because we want to build the economy of this place. These barbaric actions of people who will come here in Mpumalanga uninvited from Lesotho, from Mozambique that they come here and terrorize our people, we will not accept,” says Mandla Ndlovu, Mpumalanga Premier.

The illegal mining activities threaten the livelihood of many as some residents depend on tourism to survive.

Since zama-zamas have overrun the area, tourists are avoiding the town.

“Generally, we are happy, it is an ongoing process. We will come back unannounced again. We want to achieve our mission here. The tourists are scared they don’t come like before anymore. So, we just wish that please they can just listen to us and go to the mountain. There is a lot of mountains where they can go and do their zama-zama things,” says Jackie Macie, Mpumalanga Community Safety MEC.

Police have vowed to continue with their covert operations against the illegal miners through Operation Vala Umgodi.

Video: SANDF, SAPS raid Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga