On Wednesday, 11 February, the Gauteng Provincial Illegal Mining Stabilisation Team, arrested two suspects, aged 30, after they were found in possession of suspected stolen cables and water pump, worth thousands of rands. Twenty-six (26) bags of gold bearing materials and forty-two (42) steel pendukas were seized.
They also recovered seventy-five (75) AK-47 rifle rounds of ammunition following a shootout with a group of suspected illegal miners (Zama Zamas) in the early hours of Thursday, 12 February , in Westonaria.
Police say they received a call from the private security officers that are deployed at a mine in Westonaria about approximately one hundred (100) illegal miners who were heading towards the mine plant. Police officers from Public Order Police were immediately dispatched. As the police were approaching, the alleged illegal miners started firing shots at the police, using automatic rifles, and police fired back.
As they were advancing, police found a bag containing seventy-five (75) AK-47 rifle rounds of ammunition.
