Herman Mashaba, the leader of ActionSA, has issued legal threats against the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe. Mashaba said Mantashe could not tolerate the presence of Zama Zamas (illegal miners) in Riverlea, west of Johannesburg, and in other parts of the country. This comes in response to Mantashe’s letter, which Mashaba received following his earlier letter seeking action on the shootings from zama zamas in Riverlea.
Mashaba expressed disappointment that Mantashe did not immediately respond to her problem and instead referred the matter to the police. In a letter seen by our sources, Mantashe acknowledged that there are reports of illegal mining and confirmed that his department is working with law enforcement to combat the issue.
It describes the organized crime system associated with illegal mining, which is often driven by organized crime groups and gang-related violence and other related crimes. Mantashe also said that successful operations were carried out in seven regions, including the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.
Considering that the government feels ineffective, Mashaba is advising his legal team to find out what can be done to force Minister Mantashe and his department to resolve the situation. Towns like Riverlea have endured the horrors and devastation caused by the uncontrollable events caused by zama zamas.
The proliferation of illegal miners reflects the collapse of the law and demands urgent action. By coordinating efforts between relevant departments and law enforcement, governments can disrupt and dismantle these criminal networks. These people from neighboring countries are threatening South African workers with illegal activities, but the ANC government is not doing anything to address the situation.
