The shooting broke out at about 08:30 at a known zama zama site on the Crocodile River near Montrose on the N4. The road was later reopened, but police remained on scene.
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- The shooting broke out at about 08:30 at a known zama zama site on the Crocodile River near Montrose on the N4.
- At least four people were killed in a similar shootout on 28 August at the same site, with residents reporting an unconfirmed death toll as high as 23.
- TracN4 confirmed the road was later reopened, but police remained on scene, with motorists advised to avoid the area as further clashes could break out.
The well-known Schoemanskloof route between Machadodorp and Mbombela was closed this morning after a shootout between rival gangs of illegal miners, known as zama zamas.
The two rival groups attacked each other with AK-47 assault rifles, among other weapons, at around 08:30 on Tuesday.
It is currently unknown whether the incident resulted in any injuries or deaths.
The shooting happened at a notorious zama zama delving site on the Crocodile River at Mashobotho near the Montrose junction of the N4.
According to a reliable source with in-depth knowledge of the situation, infighting between illegal miners operating in the kloof had resulted in tensions running high for the past few weeks.
During a shootout on 28 August, at least four people were killed.
Unconfirmed figures from residents in the kloof are that the death toll could be much higher.
The police in Ngodwana could only confirm the four killings, however.
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According to Solange Soares, spokesperson for TracN4, the operators of the N4 toll road, the road was closed for traffic at the Montrose junction and the Crossings junction near Machadodorp.
Traffic was diverted on the N4 past Ngodwana.
Moeti Musi, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, said the police were currently on the scene of the shooting, and it was being treated as an active crime scene.
Lara Terblache, chairperson of the Schoemanskloof Farmers’ Association, confirmed that none of the farmers in the kloof were affected by or threatened during the attack.
She said:
Farmers closer to the delving side obviously are more concerned.
“During the shooting in August, rifle bullets were picked up in farms more than 2km from the scene.”
Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, spokesperson for the police in Mpumalanga, confirmed that the police were still on the scene.
She could not confirm if anyone had been killed.
Although the road has been reopened, police are still on the scene and motorists are encouraged to avoid the road for now as it is unclear whether yet another fight could break out.
Buks Viljoen
www.news24.com
