Myners moor ‘bendelede’

Onwettige mynwerkers word onder streng polisiebewaking vir goudstof deurgesoek. Foto: Lerato Maduna 2012-12-13 22:26 Artikelopsies Deel Kry Beeld op Onwettige mynwerkers word onder streng polisiebewaking vir goudstof deurgesoek. Foto: Lerato Maduna Foto's · Lesersfoto’s · Nuus in Foto's Stuur vir ons jou foto's · Stuur vir ons jou foto's Ügen Vos Die polisie het gister meer as 70 onwettige mynwerkers in ’n veld langs Nasrecstraat in Langlaagte in hegtenis geneem nadat twee vermeende bendelede wat die mynwerkers glo geterroriseer het, daar vermoor is. Swaargewapende lede van die polisie se taakspan en intervensie-eenheid het gister ’n wakende oog oor die groot groep onwettige mynwerkers gehou nadat hulle hulle deur tonnels uit ou myne verwyder het. Beeld verneem die onwettige mynwerkers het vroeër ’n groep van minstens 16 bendelede, wat volgens hulle Dinsdag die tonnels betree het, ingewag en hulle met klippe en rotse aangeval toe hulle gister bogronds kom. Twee van dié vermeende bendelede is in die aanval dood. Die onwettige mynwerkers het gister ander lede van dié bende, wat tussen hulle probeer wegkruip het, aan die polisie uitgewys. Beeld verneem betroubaar dat minstens een van die bendelede wat doodgemaak is, erg vermink was en dat sy geslagsdele na bewering tydens die aanval afgesny is. Lt.kol. Katlego Mogale, provinsiale polisiewoordvoerder, kon gisteraand nog nie die verminking bevestig nie. Lede van die intervensie-eenheid was omstreeks 19:00 gisteraand nog besig om met toue in die myntonnels af te sak om na nog onwettige mynwerkers te soek. Een van die onwettige mynwerkers, wat gevra het dat sy naam nie gebruik word nie, het gesê dat hulle in skofte werk en gewoonlik drie tot vier dae lank ondergronds bly. “Hoe meer geld jy uit die storie wil maak, hoe langer bly jy ondergronds,” het hy verduidelik. “Ek vat gewoonlik so drie of vier brode saam wanneer ek vir my skof aanmeld, om op te oorleef.” Volgens dié man is die onwettige mynwerkers meestal vanuit Lesotho en Zimbabwe afkomstig. Lynette Pretorius, DA-raadslid, het gesê dat sy reeds op 9 Augustus van die onwettige mynwerkers op die toneel verwyder en hul aktiwiteite by die polisie en GPF aangemeld het. “As die polisie toe reeds hul werk gedoen het, het ons nie nou met hierdie situasie gesit nie,” het sy gekla. Bheki Mdakane, woordvoerder van Central Rand Gold, het gesê die onwettige mynwerkers het hul aktiwiteite rondom ’n ongebruikte mynskag wat vermoedelik uit die 1800’s dateer, aangepak. Volgens hom is onwettige mynaktiwiteite ’n reuse- probleem vir alle myne in die gebied. Die onwettige mynwerkers sal volgens Mogale oor die twee moorde ondervra word. Hulle sal ook van onwettige mynbedrywighede aangekla word. Beeld 14 December 2012 RAID: Police search a man in a field next to Nasrec Street in Langlaagte, where more than 70 illegal miners were arrested after two suspected gang members, who allegedly terrorised the men, were murdered. (Lerato Maduna, Beeld) 'Police cash in' on illegal mining The activities surrounding illegal mining at Gravelotte Mine paint a scarier picture than meets the eye. 10 December 2012 | Maile Matsimela It has now emerged that there is a vicious circle, which involves corrupt police officers. The circle apparently starts underground, where two groups, armed with AK47s, are fighting each other for the right to mine. They rob, kill and hold each other captive. They are known as the Sothos and the Swatis. Then there is another group, waiting to rob whoever emerges from underground with gold. The circle continues to the veld along Kingsway Drive, in Lindelani, Kingsway, where all the exchanges are made. There, another group waits to rob those who come to buy gold, or the sellers, and worse, there are those who rob those who rob the sellers. People are also robbed while they are waiting for their buyers or sellers to arrive. This is where the corrupt police officers feature. "We receive information from community members that this is where police officers, instead of making arrests, opt to take bribes and, at times, even the gold itself," said Sector Eight Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Kenneth Dlhamini. Dlhamini said officers from Springs could also be involved. "We encourage the community to photograph or take down the police vehicles' registration numbers," he said. Benoni CPF executive chairperson Reza Patel said this whole situation is fanning crime in the area. "There are those who rob the miners of dynamite and use it to bomb ATMs, while some criminals steal goods and hide them in the shafts," said Patel. He added that police officers refuse to go underground, because they say it's not their mandate. "This whole trade is running free because there is no police intervention," he said. Patel also pleaded with community members in Lindelani to desist from hiring out rooms to illegal miners. "It's making residents greedy and this is attracting crime to Benoni," he said. Benoni cluster commander Brig Vuyokazi Ndebele confirmed that the police can't go underground. "We deal only with surface matters and most of the time we only get to hear about them when there is death," she said. She added that the police have heard that people are being recruited to go underground and she appealed to the community to help to stop this. She also encouraged people to report any corrupt police officers involved in these activities. Ndebele said CPF cluster chairman Stan Boss promised to assist in this regard, as he has mining background. "We will find a way to deal with this," she said. In addition to several deaths at this mine, three illegal miners were recently killed after an old mine dump collapsed on them. They were reportedly hiding from criminals who wanted to rob them of gold, in a hole at one of the dumps. Speaking to the City Times, illegal miner Armand Sithole, of Mozambique, said poverty forces them to mine and brave all the dangerous activities. Gravelotte owners sealed some of the shafts and indicated, in September, that the mine could be developed to production in the next 24 months. News24 - - COMMENTS BY SONNY - - GOLD - The root of all evil. One does not have to go to Marikana to experience violence. Not only Anglo American gets to reap the benefits. The Mines have already been nationalised by illegal miners.