The FF Plus has requested the Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Mr Vusi Shongwe, to take preventive action against illegal miners in the tourist town Pilgrim’s Rest.
A risk-management strategy urgently needs to be designed to protect residents, in particular, as well as tourists. Such a plan should involve local role-players, such as security companies.
Residents have voiced their concerns about their safety to the FF Plus. The main cause of concern is the illegal mining activities in the area.
Heavily armed illegal mineworkers – mainly foreign, undocumented aliens – are allegedly threatening residents.
These zama-zamas are accused of damaging infrastructure, creating an environmental crisis and being involved in crime.
Not only are local buildings vandalised, but dangerous substances, such as cyanide and mercury, are also dumped directly into the surrounding streams.
It is killing all aquatic life and it is not uncommon to find dead wild animals that drank out of the streams.
A tributary to the Blyde River which was once a fairly steady stream is now barely flowing at all. This is because the zama-zamas build flood walls in the streams to channel water to their self-constructed sifting plants.
The safety of many tourists who visit this popular tourist destination and the local community is in jeopardy.
Shongwe admitted that the police have lost control over crime in this little town and that the illegal miners are reportedly part of a “very large Mafia”.
According to Shongwe, this so-called Mafia is currently stronger and more heavily armed than the province’s entire police force.
This is the second time in the last month that the MEC openly admitted that criminals have gotten the upper hand over the police in the province.
It is outrageous that the community is living in fear and that the economy is being damaged due to a situation that the police are apparently unable to do anything about.
The public cannot be blamed for losing faith in a police service which is clearly giving up on the fight against crime.
The only way to change this is to vote for a coalition government, including the FF Plus, in 2024.
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