Two years ago, the community of Kanana township told SowetanLIVE that illegal mining activities in the area had turned it into a battlefield as rival gangs exchanged gunfire all the time.
One of the residents, who runs a tavern, said illegal miners had not been to her business but she lived in fear because of their clashes during the night.
“We hear gunshots every night. They are shooting each other, and we do not know what they are fighting for. As businesses, the best thing we can do is to close as early as 5pm because we are scared of what can happen to us. We live in constant fear,” the owner had said.
Previously, local councillor Thabo Seabeng proposed a curfew to the community as another safety measure for the residents.
“We’ve encouraged people to only move in groups as it is unsafe. People get robbed while going to work. Illegal miners take their cellphones, money and even their lunch boxes. Now they have started attacking taverns. They recently killed a person in one of the popular taverns and the owner has decided to close the business.”
Nandi Ntini
www.sowetanlive.co.za
