Security cluster to discuss illegal mining with Ramaphosa
Police Minister Bheki Cele has confirmed a meeting of cabinet ministers in the security cluster to discuss the spike in illegal mining in Gauteng.
The ministers are set to meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday.
Cele visited Zamimpilo informal settlement near Riverlea, in the south of Johannesburg, for the second time on Friday amid anger over violence linked to illegal mining.
The community took to the streets on Monday morning to protest against illegal mining in the area, after the police discovered five bodies believed to be those of illegal miners.
The police arrested 79 suspects on Wednesday.
Cele said the number of arrests has since increased to more than 100.
"Since we started operations, we have arrested more than 100 illegal miners. Most of them are not South Africans, they come from different countries, and most are undocumented. There is a broader plan that we are working on.
"We started in Welkom in 2018. This special team started in Welkom because the illegal miners went underground and they disturbed water and electricity. So we sent a team, where we started working with private companies. They helped us in terms of resources, and that Free State team is still working.
"We have reversed the problem in Welkom, we have put measures in place starting from there, and we continue to do so. We can't allow communities to live in fear. What we need to do is to broaden it," added Cele.
He said the security cluster would seek permanent solutions to the scourge.
"I can reveal that tomorrow at 11, we are seeing the president, who has called the security cluster to make sure that this isn't a once-off. The people that make up the cluster are (the Ministers of) Defence, Home Affairs, Justice, Correctional Service, and Police.
"So, the president is meeting all those people tomorrow at 11 to make sure that this thing comes to an end and the people of South Africa can live better."
