SowetanLive reports that the chairperson of the portfolio committee on mineral resources, Sahlulele Luzipo, says the government should consider deploying the army in areas that have been severely affected by illegal mining in order to stop the crime.

“What is becoming a concession is that police on their own [are not enough] with the high calibre rifles that illegal miners are carrying and high explosive material. One of the things that may require an urgent [move] is the use of the army because we are informed that some of these individuals are former army officers from their country of origin. That is one of the urgent things that need to be done,” he indicated. The committee, together with that of home affairs, visited areas affected by illegal mining in Johannesburg, Benoni and Alberton, on the East Rand, and Barberton and Emalahleni in Mpumalanga at the weekend. They spoke to police, community members and the mining community about the problems caused by zama zamas. Luzipo reported on complaints by mining companies that the zama zamas were now encroaching on active shafts, causing serious problems for operations. He said it was high time that departments involved in the fight against illegal mining received conditional grants from National Treasury for use to fight illegal mining. The focus on illegal mining has been heightened after the rape of eight women by zama zamas in Krugersdorp in July. Since the incident, police have been conducting raids in different parts of the province, arresting many of the illegal miners.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Penwell Dlamini at SowetanLive

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