Five bodies believed to be those of illegal miners were recovered near Krugersdorp and Kagiso, Gauteng on Sunday, 15 December.
ZAMA zamas’ decomposed bodies recovered.
Five bodies believed to be those of illegal miners were recovered near Krugersdorp and Kagiso, Gauteng on Sunday, 15 December.
A passer-by alerted the police after walking past the gruesome scene.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the five decomposed bodies that seem to be of zama zamas were recovered at an old abandoned mine situated at Corner N14 and R28, Krugersdorp/Kagiso.
“The police were notified by a member of the public who noticed the bodies as he was walking past,” she said.
Muridili said it appears that the bodies were taken out from underground and dumped at the scene to be discovered.
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“Two inquest cases will be registered in Kagiso (two bodies) and Krugersdorp (three bodies),” she said.
Speaking to Daily Sun, crime expert Calvin Rafadi said illegal mining is rife in Mzansi because of the rich minerals.
“Many mines are left without being rehabilitated, and it opens up a floodgate for zama zamas to take over,” he said.
Asked if most of the zama zamas are not South African, Rafadi said Mozambican and Zimbabwean nationals have skills in mining and most of them go in and mine while operating the phendukas.
“These syndicates recruit young people and that’s why you find young boys as little as 15 years old working as miners,” he said.
Rafadi added that these illegal miners are risk takers and not cautious of by-laws.
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