South African law enforcement officials announced on Wednesday the apprehension of 11 individuals, several of whom are believed to be involved in unauthorized mining activities. Authorities are exploring possible links between these arrests and a fatal pub shooting that occurred on Sunday, resulting in 10 deaths.
Police Operation in Westonaria
In a coordinated effort targeting illegal miners, police forces and security personnel from Sibanye-Stillwater conducted raids on two residences in Westonaria, located approximately 46 kilometers from Johannesburg. Among those taken into custody were nine individuals from Lesotho and one from Mozambique, all suspected of residing in South Africa without proper documentation. During the operation, law enforcement confiscated several unregistered weapons, including four pistols and an AK-47 assault rifle.
Maj. Gen. Fred Kekana, the acting provincial commissioner of Gauteng, informed journalists that shell casings and live rounds matching the "same type" of firearms were recovered from the Bekkersdal crime scene. These items have been submitted for forensic analysis to establish whether they were utilized in the shooting incident.
Additional Arrests and Charges
Authorities also detained a South African mine worker accused of providing shelter to undocumented individuals and potentially obstructing justice. Earlier in the week, the pub's proprietor faced legal action for fraudulent activities and running an unlicensed establishment.
Communities such as Bekkersdal, situated near deserted mine shafts in Johannesburg's western regions, are known for unauthorized mining operations. These activities have contributed to issues like organized crime and the circulation of illegal weapons.
Sibanye-Stillwater maintains multiple key facilities in this area.
In former mining hubs, so-called "zama-zamas" persist in illicit extraction work. This underground economy is largely managed by migrants who cross borders illegally from neighboring countries including Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
