WeeklySA_AdminMENACE: At least 16 arrested during large-scale operation, but many still at large after eluding capture in mountainous Pilgrim’s Rest tourist town…
By WSAM Reporters
A contingent of members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and police today descended on the old mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest – the latest flashpoint of illegal mining – in a sting operation to crackdown on the armed Zama Zama gangs laying a siege of the Mpumalanga town.
At least 16 foreign nationals, who include citizens from Mozambique, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, suspected to be zama-zama gangs were arrested in Pilgrim’s Rest, Mpumalanga during the clampdown.
With the help of a helicopter, the troops and police managed to track down the illegal miners both underground and surface during the sting – evidently deployed as a show of force in contrast to a small-scale operation of two weeks ago, when police had to retreat and abandon the mission after heavily armed illegal miners pushed back, leaving a town under siege in a haste.
The town has largely been deserted by locals and tourists as the result of the menace of illegal miners operating everywhere, spoiling the provincial heritage site, a tourist drawcard as it has a very colourful and exciting history. The area attracted prospectors looking for gold in 1873. Now, illegal miners have descended on the town.
Today, police, accompanied by the soldiers, returned to tackle the problem, reclaiming the small town from the illegal miners, who were tracked from above and underground. Yet, scores of the zama zamas eluded arrest by retreating into their hideouts.
Speaking to the media during the operation, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, acting Mpumalanga provincial commissioner, said: “I must indicate that clearly there are a lot of them. This will not be the end today. We are still going to come back and do the operation. As far as the success (of the operation) is concerned, I can say that they will be back again and they will proceed with whatever they are doing and we need to close those who are suppliers”. A helicopter hovered above the operation, trying to spot the brazen illegal miners. Some of whom were armed to the teeth.
Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu said: “We are going to pay special attention and deal with this matter because we want to build the economy of this place. These barbaric actions of people who will come here in Mpumalanga uninvited from Lesotho, from Mozambique that they come here and terrorise our people, we will not accept” says Mandla Ndlovu.
The illegal mining activities threaten the livelihood of many as some residents depend on tourism to survive. Since the town’s capture by zama-zamas, tourists have been staying away.
“Generally, we are happy, it is an ongoing process. We will come back unannounced again. We want to achieve our mission here. The tourists are scared; they don’t come like before anymore. So, we just wish that, please, they (zama zamas) can just listen to us and go to the mountains. There are a lot of mountains where they can go and do their zama-zama things,” says Jackie Macie, Mpumalanga Community Safety MEC.
Police have vowed to continue with their covert operations against the illegal miners through Operation Vala Umgodi (close the hole).
In last week’s edition the Mpumalanga Mirror and Weekly SA Mirror reported the Mpumalanga government was gearing up for a massive sting operation following the latest discovery of a large-scale Illegal mining activity by a large group of heavily armed miners from neighbouring countries, who have taken control of the heritage tourist goldfields town.
Hardly a month ago, the province awoke to a security scare when police intelligence uncovered a military training camp in White River in Mpumalanga, disguised as a security training camp, whereby, 95 Libyan nationals were arrested, the province uncovered another illegal mining hotspot – Pilgrim’s Rest, nestling about 100km west of Nelspruit and 369km east of Johannesburg.
A fortnight ago, an entourage led by Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Jackie Macie, accompanied by security forces, including media representatives, scurried out of the town on account of discovering the extent of the siege by Zama Zamas.
During the tactical retreat, Macie told the media that the provincial authorities had prioritised the matter for urgent multi-disciplinary intervention to takedown the dangerous bandits who have seized the town.
“We arrived there on Friday 22 August for an operation to be conducted to tackle the invasion of the Zama Zamas, but unfortunately, according to the intelligence information we received, we realised on arrival that we were not yet ready. Their occupation has been ongoing for the past two years,” said Macie.
OPERATION TAKEDOWN
SWOOP: Police stand at the ready while staking out a suspected hideout of fleeing illegal miners during the raid earlier today by a contingent of members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and other law enforcement agencies on the old mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest in Mpumalanga.
Pilgrim’s Rest is the latest flashpoint of illegal mining – an occurrence that has scared away tourists and locals from the popular tourism hotspot, turning it into a ghost town in the wake of the invasion by the armed Zama Zamas. The reign of terror by the illegal miners on the town triggered today’s sting operation.
Mirror Briefs
11 TRAFFIC COPS BUST
The Road Traffic Management Corporation’s Anti-Corruption Unit, together with police, have arrested 11 traffic officers in Polokwane, for allegedly taking bribes mostly from Zimbabwe-bound bus operators, taxi drivers and motorists travelling on the N1 highway between Polokwane and Musina. RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said the suspects, arrested today, were identified after a lengthy investigation.
Zwane said the officers have been under investigation since March 2022, as part of an undercover operation called “coconut” which was targeting law enforcement officials involved in unethical and unlawful conduct which led to high crashes on the N1.
“An investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Unit of the RTMC has so far revealed that Traffic officials operating along the N1 freeway and those inside towns and villages abandon their duties and drive to the N1 to carry out corrupt activities.
“It is alleged that the officers stopped motorists and conducted inspections, but they would demand bribes instead of issuing a traffic fine when they found faults with the vehicles or driving licences,” Zwane said.
Zwane added that an undercover operation to prevent, detect or investigate the commission of an offence was conducted after an entrapment permission was obtained from the Director of Public Prosecution.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrates Court to face charges relating to defeating the ends of justice, extortion, and solicitation of bribes from motorists, bus driver operators, Malaishas travelling from other provinces through Limpopo Province to Zimbabwe along N1 and alternative routes. – SAnews
DRC GETS 100 000 MPOX JABS
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has received its first batch of mpox vaccines, which health authorities hope will help curb an outbreak that has prompted the United Nations to declare a global public health emergency.
“We are pleased to receive the first shipment of close to 100 000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine in the DR Congo, with an additional 100 900 doses arriving this Saturday, 7 September 2024,” Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said in a statement with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Kaseya said by the end of the week, 200 000 doses will be available in the Congo — a country that has reported more than 4 901 confirmed mpox cases, with more than 629 associated deaths, since the start of 2024.
The numbers represent a sharp escalation in infections and fatalities compared to previous years. He said the arrival of the vaccines shows the strong partnership between Africa CDC, the EU through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), and Bavarian Nordic.
“Receiving these vaccines is an essential step in our fight against mpox. Our commitment is to safeguard our population’s health, particularly our children, who are the most vulnerable.
We will continue working closely with our partners to control the spread of this disease and ensure a healthy future for all Congolese,” said Kaseya.
Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said in a statement that his agency is “delighted that we were able to respond to the Public Health Emergency of International Concern in record time, ensuring that vaccines are arriving in the DRC as of today.”
UNICEF representative in the Congo, Grant Leaity, said, “Mpox is a preventable disease, and vaccination with JYNNEOS has proven to be highly effective in reducing transmission and preventing severe complications.” – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
R20m COPPER STING HAILED
KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has commended law enforcement agencies for the arrest of a 59-year-old suspect linked to the theft of copper worth over R20 million.
The stolen copper was recovered this week from a scrapyard on Martin Drive in Queensburgh, south-west of Durban. Buthelezi said every year, criminal syndicates cause hundreds of millions of rands in damage to public infrastructure that provides essential services, including water, electricity and sanitation.
“These criminals sell the stolen metals to unscrupulous scrapyard dealers, severely hampering municipalities’ ability to serve their communities. We are pleased to see that law enforcement is gaining the upper hand in the fight against these criminals who perpetuate economic sabotage through their actions,” Buthelezi said.
Buthelezi emphasised the importance of community involvement in combating these crimes and urged the public to work closely with law enforcement by reporting any suspicious activities.
“The fight against crime is a collective effort. We need the eyes and ears of our communities to help us protect our public assets,” he said. – SAnews
MINISTERS SIGN SPORT PACT
Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, aimed at promoting access to sports and culture programmes in schools.
The MoU establishes a collaborative framework between the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to implement school sports and arts programmes throughout the country.
McKenzie said the MoU marked a milestone in the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) vision to deliver equality of access for all young people, particularly those in rural, township, and underprivileged areas. The Minister said the agreement was a vital first step in unlocking talent and boosting transformation in both sport and the arts.
“The key to transforming South African sport is to ensure that as many schools as possible – from the townships to rural areas and other less fortunate communities gain access to similar kinds of facilities, coaching and equipment.
“For too long, South Africa’s national teams have relied on private schools as talent-feeders, which, while valuable, does not represent the full potential of this country,” McKenzie said, recommitting himself to Project 300, an undertaking to produce 300 athletes for the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Gwarube echoed his sentiment, stressing the importance of inclusivity in school sport, adding: “There are 13.5 million pupils in our schools and they’re all worthy of an opportunity to have sports available in their schools.
So, whether you’re from Qwaqwa or Qumbu or Sandton, we want you to have the same amount of opportunities to play sport, to be involved in culture”.
Importantly, the MoU envisions an approach where facilities are built in such a manner that numerous schools will be able to benefit from them and share them. – Lehlohonolo Lehana
