Just News |
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has called for the implementation of more stringent measures to end the escalating lawlessness and mayhem caused by illegal mining in the Province.
This comes after five bodies of suspected illegal miners were discovered with gunshot wounds in Riverlea on Sunday, 30 July 2023. It is alleged that the five men were part of a gang of foreign illegal miners who got involved in a gun battle with a rival gang.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Community Safety, Bandile Masuku said earlier this month, the Committee made calls to Law Enforcement Agencies operating in the Province to establish dedicated and specialized units that will see the complete eradication of illegal mining in Gauteng after 17 people died in Boksburg as a result of illegal mining activities.
“The recent Riverlea incident is a clear indication that little has been done since the call made by the Committee to end illegal mining in the Province. Law Enforcement Agencies in the Province appear to be powerless and defeated in their fight against illegal mining”.
In a statement, Masuku said as part of a heightened response the Committee will be writing to the President of the Republic and the Premier of Gauteng to consider the deployment of Members of the South African National Defense Force to end the scourge of illegal mining in the Province once and for all.
