By: Natasha Archary and Pitso Molemane

Protests erupt in Riverlea after 5 bodies were discovered following a shootout over what angry residents say was a clash between two rival illegal mining gangs over the weekend.
The bodies of five people were found with several gunshot wounds, and sparked the protests with residents saying they are living in fear.
Kaya News Reporter Pitso Molemane is on the ground at Riverlea on Monday, 31 July and paints a tense scene of a stand-off between SAPS and Johannesburg Metro Police.
According to Molemane, Main Reef Road cannot be accessed, after residents barricaded the road with burning tyres and steel.
Thick black smoke from burning tyres fills the air in Riverlea, and protesters are stopping officers from reopening the road.
Residents say the clash between the illegal miners, or zama zamas, happened at the Zamimpilo informal settlement.
Angry residents in #Riverlea have taken to the streets in protest barricading roads with rocks and burning tyres. Tensions are high in the area following the discovery of the bodies of five people suspected to be #illegalminers.#KayaNews PM pic.twitter.com/P4kBPXmlcj
— Kaya 959 News (@KayaNews) July 31, 2023
Meanwhile, DA MP James Lorimer has hit back at police for their inability to tackle illegal mining in the area.
Speaking on Newzroom Afrika, Lorimer says the problem of illegal mining in Riverlea has persisted for a long time, but has only worsened over the last 6-months, as frequent gun battles continue between different gangs of illegal miners.
The DA MP says police have been poor in their handling of the situation and is calling for a coherent and systematic response from police on the ground.
“The big problem is that police appear not to be getting to grips with the situation at all. If they are involved, they’re not telling us how they’re involved, and to residents, it seems like police are also involved in the shooting.
In fact, almost a week ago, a passerby was shot and killed, apparently in crossfire between police and zama zamas.”
DA MP James Lorimer
The DA is demanding government shut down abandoned mining shafts in and around Riverlea, owing to serious and violent recurring gun battles.
The DA is demanding government shut down abandoned mining shafts in and around #Riverlea, west of Johannesburg. The party says Riverlea is now a source of serious and violent crime with recurring gun-battles between different gangs of zama zamas.#KayaNews #IllegalMining NPM pic.twitter.com/OLL2cntK18
— Kaya 959 News (@KayaNews) July 31, 2023
Also read: EFF supporter falls to his death at 10th anniversary celebration



