Residents of Riverlea in Johannesburg are happy with the presence of the men in blue patrolling their crime-riddled community. Residents are however unhappy that illegal mining activity in the area continues promises by government to end it.
Community leaders accuse various departments, including police, of dispensing false promises when Riverlea was under siege from criminal violence recently.
Sunday World engaged with the residents for their views following the state intervention when the illegal miners, also known as zama zamas, were running amok in the community.
Chris Louw, 55, voiced his concerns about the continuing illegal mining operations.
“My main concern is that the shafts are not closed yet. The department of mineral resources promised on their visit here that by the end of September all the shafts will be permanently closed. The department should come give the community feedback,” Louw said.
He also cited the continual threat posed by the Zamimpilo informal settlement, where the zama zamas stay. Frustrated Louw says the community has drastically changed from the area he grew up in.
“Will Zamimpilo be shut down, because it seems to be where our problems come from?”
Difference Cele visit brought
Louw said the visit by Police Minister Bheki Cele earlier this year lifted hopes. He said for a long police never responded to their calls to the 10111 emergency number.
“It took the sad killing of a resident for residents to block off the area and stand together as one. The police minister made promises and we were skeptical as many promises were made to us previously.
“It has gone quiet in the area and we are able to have a peaceful sleep as the gunshots do not go off anymore.There is a sense of calmness in the area again,” Louw added.
Louw left a stern and strong message to government: “Finish what you started in the community of Riverlea. Maintain the police presence (though) we know that you are overstretched. When the community raises an issue please do not ignore us.”
The Patriotic Alliance councillor in the City of Johannesburg Theo Doyle also said the community was in a better space since Cele’s visit.
“However, home affairs has not come on board as they promised, to act on the validity of Zamimpilo residents.”
Doyle added that 90% of the people living at the informal settlement were undocumented foreign nationals. But that does not mean Zamimpilo residents are safe from the rampant crime in and around the settlement.
Not a place to raise a child
A mother told Sunday World that she had to send her one-year-old child back home in the Eastern Cape because of difficult living conditions.
“It’s hugely unsafe to raise a child here. The miners are unpredictable in their behaviour as their fights start any time.”
On Monday Cele spoke on wide-range briefing on the outcomes of the ANC national executive committee meeting at the weekend.
“We have activated operations and located the special tactical response teams. These operations are costly, as we need to shift and allocate men in blue to the areas that they will operate in for an effective outcome.
“We have seen results over a space of time. We have activated an operation in Riverlea and Welkom (in Free State) to act on zama zama problems. It (crime) has gone quiet since our work there.
“This zama zama thing was long identified, and in 2011 it was something we could handle.”
Joining Cele at the briefing was Polly Boshielo, chair of ANC national executive committee’s sub-committee on peace and stability.
Boshielo said the SA National Defence Force will be integrated into the security of the country’s borders to ensure that the newly launched Border Management Agency works in an efficient manner.
“As the sub-committee, we are working in a very coordinated fashion with all departments in the security cluster to combat crime and build stability in our country,” Boshielo said.
“This includes Operation Shanela, where the SAPS (SA Police Service) and other members of the JCPS (justice, crime prevention and security cluster) are working tirelessly to combat crime in our streets.”
