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Donderdag 10 November 2016
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More zamas arrested SAPS winning war on illegal mining Marti Will mwill@volksblad.com
The Welkom police continue to tighten the screws on illegal miners (zama-zamas) and illegal activities involving foreign nationals. Another 24 illegal miners have been arrested at Eland Shaft in Welkom. On 4 November, the Welkom police arrested the zama-zamas for illegal immigration, attempted theft of gold bearing material and trespassing. The suspects included 14 Zimbabweans, six South Africans, two from Lesotho and two Mozambicans. They have appeared in court and remain in custody. Since March this year, joint operations have given the illegal mining trade in the Goldfields a solid blow, with 1 429 zama-zamas being arrested and more than 60 cases of inquest being registered with regards to illegal miners who have died underground. The deceased are mostly from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The police have also arrested five Lesotho nationals for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. On 4 November, the Crime Intelligence Gathering Unit received a tip-off which led to the seizure of an unlicensed firearm and four rounds of ammunition. The five Lesotho nationals were arrested at a house in Kowie Street, St Helena, Welkom. The men are aged between 18 and 35. They have appeared in court and remain in custody. “We regard this seizure and arrests as a breakthrough. Last month, four Lesotho nationals were fatally shot in Lindsay Road. We are still looking for the suspects, who might be Lesotho
nationals,” says the acting cluster commander of Welkom, Brig. Mzondi Mojafi. On 6 November, a member of the Welkom Flying Squad received a tip-off about food meant for illegal miners underground. At the Leeuwkuil farm in the Welkom District, the police discovered a large quantity of instant porridge packed in plastic bags. No suspects were found at the scene and the Welkom Flying Squad confiscated the goods. “We regard this development in a positive light, because illegal miners without food cannot survive underground,” said Capt. Stephen Thakeng, communication and liaison officer. In September, Vista reported that the zama-zamas who were found guilty received sentences which range from three months to three years in jail, with options of fines from R1 500 up to R20 000. When the zamas cannot afford to pay fines, they serve their sentences and face deportation to their respective countries. Apart from being charged with illegal immigration and attempted theft of gold-bearing material, charges also include street mining, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of food or items suspected to be meant for illegal miners underground. The confiscated products amount to millions of rand. “We will continue to track down those who recruit people from neighbouring countries like Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe under the pretence that they will be given employment. We are winning the war on illegal mining,” said Thakeng.
Liz Homan se motor in die gat.
Foto: Francis Bouermeister
Gat eis byna bejaarde se lewe Madli Grobbelaar madli.grobbelaar@volksblad.com
’n Waterpyp-gat in Badenhorststraat het amper ’n bejaarde vrou se lewe geëis. Die 73-jarige Liz Homan, inwoner van Wrightstraat, Naudeville, het Dinsdagmiddag (08/11) omstreeks 13:20 met haar Hyundai Atos in die gat beland. Homan was van die dorp af op pad na haar dogter, Charmaine Kruger, se huis toe die ongeluk gebeur het. Daar het vermoedelik ’n motor van voor gekom terwyl ’n motor van agter haar wou verbygaan.
Homan het op die voertuig agter haar gekonsentreer toe sy in die gat gery het. Omstanders het die nooddienste ontbied en werkers van die insleepdienste het Homan se dogter gebel met die nuus dat haar ma in ’n ongeluk was. Kruger sê sy het die oggend op pad werk toe die gat gesien, maar het nie besef hoe diep dit is nie. “Daar was ook nie genoegsame waarskuwingstekens rondom die gat nie,” sê Kruger. Homan is deur nooddienste na die naaste hospital vervoer. Kruger sê haar ma is in skok en wag nog vir die dokter se uitslae.
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