This follows a bloody shootout with security officials and police, which left at least six miners dead. The shooting comes after some miners, usually referred to as zama-zamas, tried to pass on food and water to some of their compatriots who were underground at shaft number six in Orkney, outside Klerksdorp. Videos of the alleged shooting and arrests of miners are doing rounds on social media.

Meanwhile, police spokesperson, Sabata Mokgwabone, says 35 illegal miners have been nabbed for attempted murder, causing an explosion, malicious damage to property, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

OFM News previously reported that at least 20 bodies of Lesotho nationals, amongst others, were found in Orkney outside Klerksdorp in June. Mokgwabone says 300 illegal miners attacked and shot at security officers. Later, when they attempted to provide foodstuffs to their fellow illegal miners who were underground, they also shot at the police.

“The shooting incidents that unfolded at about 18:30 led to the deaths of illegal miners. Four bodies were found in the vicinity of the shaft, one was found approximately 800 metres from the crime scene while the sixth one was found in the bushes near the Kanana Location. Several food parcels and two firearms were found at the crime scene. The arrests and shooting incidents came after a decision by the mine management to clamp down on illegal mining activities by closing the ventilation shaft which the “zama-zamas” had been using to enter and exit various shafts,” he adds.

Mokgwabone further adds that following the shortage of food and water, some of the illegal miners voluntarily started to exit the shaft on Saturday 2 October 2021 and Sunday 3 October 2021. More than 500 miners had already exited the shaft.

They were thoroughly processed, including being medically examined for dehydration, before being released. Some were treated by paramedics while a few others were taken to hospital. Although nobody exited on Monday and Tuesday, the “zama-zamas” exited again on Wednesday afternoon, 6 October 2021. It was at that stage that some of the illegal miners launched an attack which resulted in the deaths,” Mokgwabone further alluded.

READ MORE: Investigation launched after 20 bodies were discovered outside Klerksdorp

OFM News