South Africa – In response to the persistent danger and violence caused by illegal miners, also known as Zama-Zamas, in their area, the residents of Riverlea have taken to the streets in protest. During the weekend violent shooting in the area resulted in at least five fatalities , suspected to be caused by clashes between rival mining groups.
Ismail Van Wyk, an activist of the Riverlea community, highlighted this problem as a longstanding concern for their area. Despite the residents’ efforts to address the issue by filing formal complaints with local authorities, their appeals have been mainly disregarded.
“This issue has been ongoing. We’ve had politicians involved with community complaints, but now the situation is out of hand. We’ve been struggling, and so far, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. So as a community, we’ve decided to just come out and fight for our territory.”
The Police’s Slow Response in Riverlea
According to Van Wyk, the police have yet to show much support for the Riverlea residents, despite him acknowledging their visibility and presence in the community, as they have done little to curb the threat of illegal miners. The main concern lies in the police response time to incidents involving reported illegal activities in the vicinity.
Regarding the events over the weekend, which are suspected to be disputes over illegal mining territory, Van Wyk stated residents had reported the escalating situation before the shooting occurred. However, police response was delayed, with them arriving hours after the incident was reported.
“They are not there when we need them … We have reported to the police from five o’clock, six o’clock up to 11 o’clock in the evening. That’s when the shooting starts. We do respect the fact that the police come out, but our times are from five o’clock, six o’clock, that’s when the Zama-Zamas intimidate us. But now [the weekend’s incident] has proven that this territory fighting is not going to stop.”
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Riverlea Resident’s Safety Concerns
Residents of Riverlea live in constant fear due to frequent encounters with Zama-Zama, resulting in intimidating situations or worse. As a precaution, people try to be inside their homes before sundown.
Despite being aware of the inconvenience caused by the protest, Van Wyk views it as a crucial means to emphasise the gravity of the situation.
Moreover, the protest serves as a reflection of the community’s safety apprehensions, especially regarding the rising levels of violence in the area. This concern extends not only to their safety but also to the well-being of neighbouring communities.
“People’s lives should come first, even if you’re a foreigner. Human safety should be prioritised. Safety should be first. It’s not that we want to go to the streets and protest, but if people are dying, are we supposed to just hold our hands and sit back?”
