On Thursday morning, residents in Gauteng’s Kagiso were also spotted blocking entrances and exit routes in the township. This forms part of their protest over the failure of officials to close unused mines and escalating crime. Residents are protesting calling for the closure of unused mines in area. All major roads are closed and school children can’t access school, workers are also prevented from going to work. Roads to Leratong hospital have been blocked.
The issue of illegal mining in the country is a serious concern. Foreign nationals take advantage of the unused mines who have been closed due to them being a danger to the environment. Just a few days ago, Zama Zamas allegedly raped women who were shooting a movie in Krugersdorp. This is when the police stood up and made some arrests of the illegal miners. But the problem with these Zama Zamas is nit something new. Sometime back, Kagiso residents protested against those mines, complaining about their houses getting cracks due to explosives but nothing was done. Residents cried about crime due to those mines but nothing was done.
The situation with illegal miners is now out of control, to a point that even the ANC, which is a ruling party, don’t know what to do. On Wednesday, the ANC marched against illegal miners in Krugersdorp. “We hope that our government will be waiting with the necessary speed to deal with this issue of illegal mines [and] abandoned mining dumps. We have got to tighten our migration [immigration] laws to make sure that we are able to deal with the illegal immigrants much more decisively,” said Pule Mabe.
Meanwhile, situation remains tense in Tembisa. A police van was pelted with stones as the #Tembisashutdown protests continue into Wednesday evening. Street lights are off as some parts of the township are without power, but sounds of stones landing onto street surfaces are still heard as road blockading continues.
It is a sad reality that residents have resorted to taking to the streets to be heard. Their frustration has escalated to them burning and destroying infrastructure. While the country burns like this, leaders are chilling behind their high walls. What is going to happen to this country? Cry South Africa! Cry our beloved country!
Residents in Gauteng's Kagiso are this morning blocking entrances and exit routes in the township. This forms part of their protest over the failure of officials to close unused mines and escalating crime. @malungelob has more.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/VIHmrrilAW
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 4, 2022