NATIONAL NEWS - The illegal mining operation Vala Mgodi (Close the Holes), aimed at ending zama zama activities at disused shafts in Golden Drive, Benoni, officially kicked off today.
Just after 08:00, the Benoni City Times journalists headed to the affected area to report on the operation, which is set to continue until 31 March.
After seemingly fruitless efforts to locate stakeholders, including Gauteng SAPS, the SANDF, and representatives of the Department of Minerals and Energy (DMR), the team managed to merge with a convoy heading directly to an area referred to as ‘zama zama village’.
The journalists found the area, usually teeming with vendors in rickety structures who supply miners with food, beverages, medical supplies, and even airtime and SIM cards, was now occupied by armed SANDF members wearing camo face masks.
While a grader operator set to work levelling the ground next to a cargo container, a member of the task team, who wished to remain anonymous, promptly instructed the Benoni City Times that no photos or videos may be taken.
“The illegal miners were issued with a notice of the intention to bring their operations to a halt. During the three-month deployment in the area, miners will be required to cease operations and surface,” he said.
“Tools and equipment will be confiscated and anyone found on the wrong side of the law will be arrested. Work will then commence to close the holes and rehabilitate the area.”
The person the newspaper spoke to said due to the volatile nature of the operation, no civilians are allowed access.
“To ensure the safety of everyone involved and given the unpredictability of the situation, all necessary precautions must be taken,” he said.
Benoni City Times journalists were then escorted to a safe zone, just outside the Formula K Raceway, where a representative of DMR was said to meet with them to provide further information.
Following nearly an hour’s wait, the journalists were eventually told none of the stakeholders would be entertaining any media enquiries at this stage, only confirming that the operation started as scheduled.
Benoni City Times were requested to direct their enquiries to DMR. Attempts to reach the correct person were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
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