Zama-Zamas handed life sentence

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Two illegal miners (commonly known as Zama-Zamas) were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder by the Klerksdorp regional court on Wednesday.

The convicts, Theko Ernest Mofololo Makaka, 36, and Thuso Nhlapo, 28, were further declared unfit to possess firearms.

According to North West police spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh, on Tuesday, November 26, 2022 at about 14:00 – members were called to a scene at Z section near a tavern in Kanana Township.

This is where the body of Molifi Moshounyana, 34, was found with multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead by Emergency and Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) on the scene.

She stated that it was later established that Moshounyana was killed due to provision of food to zama-zamas underground.

Myburgh highlighted that through thorough investigations by the Anti-Gang Unit, the suspect was identified as Makaka.

She added; “The suspect was arrested during a crime intelligence operation on Tuesday, 7 February 2023, by members of Potchefstroom K9, after following up on information about a person who was in possession of illegal firearms.

“The members searched a house in Z section in Kanana, where they found a plastic bag with explosives. The two suspects, who are both Lesotho citizens, were arrested.”

They were further sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment for possession of explosives and and an additional two years’ imprisonment for Contravention of the Immigration Act.

Meanwhile, explosive and illegal mining equipment were confiscated during Operation Vala Umgodi in Waterberg district, Polokwane on Wednesday.

An integrated operation conducted an intelligence led operation at Makapan after receiving a tip-off on illegal mining activities in the area, Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed.

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He said the team went to Makapan Amatava goldmine in the Waterberg district.

“The illegal mining site is situated on top of the mountain and the team deployed the drone to conduct observation and some suspicious structures were observed.

“The team ascended the mountain and no suspect was found but items such as hammers, chisels, sift, buckets containing metal stones and meters detonating cord explosive were confiscated,” Ledwaba concluded.