JOHANNESBURG – Around 400 illegal miners remain underground at the Sheba gold mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga.
Nearly 500 were arrested as part of Operation Vala Mgodi.
The zama zamas infiltrated operational mine shafts and often come into conflict with mine workers.
Police are sealing off holes, effectively cutting off food supplies, to force the miners to resurface.
But, some residents don’t want the miners arrested, saying they are part of the community.
They also fear crime will increase as these miners are no longer putting food on the table.
eNCA’s Jenna-Leigh Bilong discussed this with Mining Affected Communities United in Action’s Sabelo Mnguni.
eNCA
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