“He’ll Be Out Tomorrow”: Mzansi Dumbfounded As Zimbabwean Zama Zama Says He Is Unfazed By Arrest In Riverlea
A Zimbabwean zama zama who was arrested for illegal mining in Riverlea, Johannesburg, said he was not afraid of the consequences and that he had been underground for over two weeks.
Zimbabwean Zama Zama Nabbed In Riverlea
The man, whose name was not revealed, was one of the four suspected illegal miners who were apprehended by the police on Friday morning during a walkabout by Police Minister Bheki Cele. He spoke to Newzroom Afrika Ziniko Mhlaba in isiZulu and said he had nothing to fear because he was alive.
“I’m feeling all right. I have nothing to be afraid of because I’ve been arrested and I’m not dead,” he said.
[WATCH] A Zimbabwean illegal miner arrested in Riverlea tells #Newzroom405‘s @ZinikokaMhlaba that he is not bothered by his arrest and that he has been underground for over two weeks. Police Minister Bheki Cele is visiting the area for an imbizo on illegal mining. pic.twitter.com/bj1VxDSh2D
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) August 4, 2023
Illegal Mining Causing Chaos
The arrest came after five bodies of suspected illegal miners were found in the area and Zamimpilo informal settlement on Sunday. The deaths have been blamed on an alleged turf war between rival groups of illegal miners.
On Friday, Cele led a delegation of police officials from national and provincial offices to the area before an imbizo taking place in Riverlea later in the day. He confirmed that the miners were also illegal immigrants and congratulated the officers for the arrests.
He also updated the reporters on the morning’s operations, which saw the seizure of equipment used by illegal miners, such as generators, explosives, gas cylinders, and gold bearing sand.
Cele added that the police had also disconnected illegal electricity connections in the park near the settlement and that the illegal miners had intimidated and chased away the residents who complained about them.
The police operations in Riverlea since Tuesday have resulted in the arrest of 79 suspected illegal miners. Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said 69 of the suspects were undocumented persons.
Mzansi Startled By The Zimbabwean Zama Zama
Ori:
“SAPS and the law of this country lost its dignity …. He probably knows that he will be out soon, and he’s grateful to be arrested instead of being dead 😭😭🤌🔥”
Castle:
“He knows he will be out soon and saps will once again be busy with tick-tocks.”
Fortune:
“Who are these illegal miners working for?”
Mavoe:
“He knows it’s better to suffer in SA than in Zimbabwe.”
Clayton:
“”Not bothered” is not what he is saying here. He says he is not scared, he feels safe. Death is always lingering underground.”