By: Natasha Archary

Residents of Riverlea have been promised by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) that all open mine shafts would be closed by the end of September 2023.
This after over 100 illegal miners, or zama zamas have been arrested following the discovery of 5 bodies in the area last week, believed to be the result of ongoing shootings between rival illegal mining gangs.
On Friday, 04 August, Department Environmental Chief Director, Andries Moatshe, said 26 open shafts were discovered between Riverlea and Langlaate.
These holes were, according to SAPS Specialised Units reopened by zama zamas, with Riverlea residents calling for police to intervene and rid the area of the illegal miners, they say is making the area unsafe.
#sapsGP [UPDATE] Riverlea #IllegalMining National Intervention.
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) August 3, 2023
The Specialised Units are now concentrating on the illegal mining holes that have been reopened by the Zama Zamas. NP pic.twitter.com/uhGQjvLF3A
Moatse said that 14 of the reopened shafts had people inside, and the rest where there were no zama zamas inside would be closed immediately.
“We made a resolution that the ones where there are no people, would be closed immediately, and that’s what we did, we backfilled them.
Yes, it’s a temporary situation.”
Environmental Chief Director, Andries Moatshe
According to Moatshe, a plan is in place to flush out zama zamas who are still occupying the other shafts which were illegally reopened.
At an Imbizo in Riverlea on Friday, 04 August, residents called for the Zamimpilo informal settlement to be removed, saying this is where the zama zamas reside.
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