Illegal miners, commonly known as zama zamas in South Africa, who were arrested after being rescued from disused mines in Stilfontein, North West, have appeared in court and received wholly suspended sentences.
As reported by <a href="https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/north-west/stilfontein-miners-deported-to-neighbouring-countries-after-getting-wholly-suspended-sentences-105bec57-ff0b-4bca-93a3-9e00bf5ec966">IOL</a>, the second group of illegal miners was sentenced at the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court on December 31 for illicit mining and violating the Immigration Act.
According to North West provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, the accused include 10 Lesotho nationals, four Mozambicans, and five Zimbabwean undocumented migrants, aged between 20 and 43.
Each of the accused was sentenced to six months in prison or a R12,000 fine for illegal mining. These sentences are suspended for five years, provided they are not convicted of illegal mining during this period.
Additionally, the miners were sentenced to three months in prison or a R6,000 fine for violating South Africa’s Immigration Act, with this sentence also suspended for five years on the condition of no further violations. Said Mokgwabone:
<blockquote>
Following the sentences, the accused were on January 7, 2025, deported to their countries of origin by the Department of Home Affairs. The accused were arrested at Margaret Shaft where they resurfaced in November 2024.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng, has welcomed the conviction and subsequent deportation of the zama zamas.
Asaneng reiterated that the ongoing “Vala Umgodi” operation will continue to ensure that those who commit crimes are held accountable in accordance with the law.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Illegal miners called "zama zamas" in South Africa were rescued from abandoned mines in Stilfontein, North West. They got suspended sentences in court for illegal mining and breaking immigration laws. Five of them, from Zimbabwe, were deported back to their country. The sentences are "stopped" for five years if they don't do more illegal mining. The police will keep working to catch people who break the rules. The Acting Police Commissioner in North West is glad these miners were caught and sent away. The operation to catch criminals will keep going.

Five "Zama Zamas" Deported To Zimbabwe After Getting Wholly Suspended Sentences

A teenager was crushed to death by a rock in a disused mine shaft at Sunace Mine in Umguza District, Matabeleland North, while engaging in illegal gold mining with four friends on Thursday.
Luckmore Sibanda (17) was killed by a large rock that fell on him while he was illegally digging for gold in a decades-old mine shaft.
His four colleagues, two of whom are also believed to be teenagers, escaped unhurt and later notified the authorities at Sunace Mine that Sibanda was trapped under a rock, although they were unsure if he was still alive.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) acting spokesperson in Bulawayo Province, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele, confirmed the incident. She said:
<blockquote>
Police confirm the sudden death of Luckmore Sibanda, national identity document not held, a male aged 17 years from Lukala Village under Chief Mtshane Khumalo.
On the afternoon of 12 December, the deceased’s father was approached by an adult male informing him that Luckmore Sibanda was trapped in a mine shaft.
When they went to check on him, it was discovered that the deceased’s body was trapped under a large rock. The team tried to retrieve the body but failed.
A police report was then made. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the mine was closed, and the deceased and his colleagues were engaged in illegal mining.
We encourage members of the public to desist from illegal mining as it endangers their lives.
</blockquote>
In an interview with the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/teen-illegal-miner-crushed-to-death-four-survive-mine-collapse/">Chronicle</a>, the late teenager’s father, Never Sibanda, said that the family is struggling to come to terms with the devastating possibility that his body may never be retrieved from the shaft. He said:
<blockquote>
Chances of his body being retrieved from the shaft are very slim. He was crushed by a large rock, which must be moved to retrieve his body, something we believe may not be possible.
His peers are still in school, but he chose to join his friends in gold mining. It hurts to lose our child at such a young age.
</blockquote>
Sunace Mine security supervisor Muzikababa Makwelo said that the chances of retrieving the body are less than two percent, adding it would be extremely risky to send a rescue team into the mine.
Makwelo said security teams frequently engage in running battles with illegal miners, who often carry dangerous weapons such as machetes and knives during their unsanctioned raids on the mine. He said:
<blockquote>
We have in the past tried to seal off the entrances of the disused shafts, but they always find a way in to dig for gold.
It’s a constant battle to keep them away from these old shafts, no matter how dangerous the conditions are.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A 17-year-old teenager named Luckmore Sibanda was crushed to death by a rock in a mine shaft while illegally mining for gold with his friends at Sunace Mine. His friends escaped and told the authorities about the accident. The police confirmed the incident. Luckmore's father is sad that his son's body may not be retrieved. The mine's security supervisor said it's dangerous to try to retrieve the body. Illegal mining is risky and can be very dangerous. It's important to stay away from closed mines to avoid accidents.

Teen Killed In Mine Shaft While Engaging In Illegal Mining

A prominent Bulawayo pathologist Dr. Roger Kruger Hendrick Chigangacha has accused his ex-girlfriend of faking the paternity of her daughter who is now aged 11 years by claiming that he was the biological father of the girl.
<a href="https://www.bmetro.co.zw/heartless-amakorokoza-actress-makes-city-doctor-maintain-another-mans-child-for-11-years/">B-Metro</a> reported that the doctor is suing his foreign-based ex-girlfriend, Natasha Popova Sibanda, a former actress in the TV drama Amakorokoza for US$163 000 for falsely attributing the paternity of her child to him.
Natasha starred as AK’s wife in the drama.
Through his lawyers Mashayamombe and Company Attorneys, Dr. Chingangacha filed a summons at the High Court in Bulawayo on 20 January 2023 citing Sibanda as the defendant under case number HC51 / 23.
Dr. Chigangacha said in December 2022, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiling was conducted on him and his purported daughter and the results disqualified him from being the girl’s biological father.
In papers before the court, Dr. Chigangacha said Sibanda’s actions subjected him to humiliation, stress, and a sense of betrayal. He said:
<blockquote>
On 19 December 2022, and through DNA profiling carried out on me and the minor child, the profile results conclusively excluded me as being the biological father of the child.
It was reasonably foreseeable or ought to have been foreseen by the defendant that her promiscuous behaviour at the time of conception would have resulted in me being falsely imputed fatherhood of the child.
… By reason of the defendant’s conduct, I acted on her misrepresentation and paid for all the educational requirements of the child up to December 31, 2022.
I have also expended some money in respect of travels and costs towards the general welfare and upkeep of the minor child.
</blockquote>
The pathologist wants the court to order Sibanda to pay him US$100 000 for her wrongful and deceitful attribution of the paternity of the child to him.
He also wants the court to direct the former actress to pay special damages of US$63 000 arising from the payment of the child’s education, health, and incident costs including her upkeep and welfare.
Dr. Chigangacha wants the money to be paid with interest at the prescribed rate from the date of issue of summons to the date of payment in full.
The pathologist said he was involved in an extra-marital affair with Sibanda from 2011 until June 2012 during which they engaged in sex.
He said Sibanda conceived and gave birth on May 20, 2012.
Sibanda is yet to respond to the summons.

Prominent Doctor Sues Amakorokoza Actress For $163 000 For Paternity Fraud

The Hawks, in collaboration with police and Home Affairs, have arrested six Zimbabweans in connection with illegal mining and money laundering.
The law-enforcement authorities confirmed that six suspects believed to be illegal mining kingpins were arrested in Carletonville and Khutsong during a raid that began in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said: 
<blockquote>
The Hawks’ Gauteng together with the Department of Home Affairs and other stakeholders are conducting an operation on the illegal mining kingpins’ residences in Carletonville and Khutsong.
Six suspects have been arrested since the early hours of this morning. The multi-disciplinary team is also seizing their luxury vehicles and investigations are still ongoing.
</blockquote>
The police said the six kingpins are all from Zimbabwe, while the fugitive is a Mozambican national. 
The suspects are facing charges of fraud and money laundering as they are believed to be dealing in precious metals purchased from the infamous Zama Zamas for processing and selling them to the next level in the hierarchy. 
A zama-zama (plural zama-zamas) is a person who works illegally in abandoned mineshafts in order to retrieve metals or minerals. Makorokoza or illegal miners in Zimbabwe.
They are expected to appear at the Carletonville magistrate’s court on Wednesday 5 October 2022, on charges of money laundering, dealing in illegal precious metals, and fraud.
Mogale said six transactions were conducted to the value of R500 000.
The Hawks say the suspects’ properties have been seized including luxury vehicles.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

South Africa: 6 Zimbabweans Arrested For Illegal Mining, Money Laundering

Poor teachers have resorted to illegal gold panning also know as chikorokoza in a bid to put food on their tables, the Daily News reports. The matter came to light when Zimbabwe Teachers Association Bulawayo chair, Wilson Mangena, while he was addressing an education Indaba in Bulawayo when he said:
<blockquote>Teachers are now makorokozas and I saw it for myself. In Bubi District, there is a place near Gloag High and I saw teachers gold panning alongside some of the students they teach. Teachers are seriously demotivated and we ask that their remuneration be reviewed. I have seen some teachers cleaning schools and I told them that they do not know their jobs. The government should avail funds so that schools hire people to clean</blockquote>
Teachers <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/09/18/civil-servants-reject-40-salary-increment/">last week were part of the civil servants that rejected the government’s 40% salary increament</a> saying it was too little and it will still not sustain them. Meanwhile when the publication spoke to some ZIMSEC final exams candidates they sais they wished the government would postpone the December examinations because they didn’t have ample time prepare for the impending exams.
More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/poor-teachers-turn-to-chikorokoza/">Daily News </a>

Teachers Are Now Makorokozas Because Of Poverty - ZIMTA

Grace Mugabe, the former first lady and widow of the late founding leader of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, is reported to have approached the government seeking assistance in removing illegal miners from Gushungo Farm and Dairy.
It is reported that the illegal miners, known as Makorokoza, invaded the empire belonging to the Mugabe family when the owners were in Singapore where the late veteran leader was receiving medical attention.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is said to have since directed Director General (DG) in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Ambassador Isaac Moyo, to look into the case to get a first-hand appreciation of the situation.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail, some unnamed highly placed sources said that the illegal miners kept coming back causing great damage to properties. The sources said:
<blockquote>The former First Lady raised concern on the menace of the Makorokoza and has since convened with senior Government officials.
The officials were able to immediately assist her to remove some of these people and authorities will continue to assist her.
The problem with the Makorokozas is that they have a tendency to keep coming back and we are working towards ensuring that we constantly remove them.</blockquote>
Gushungo Dairies, which was founded by Grace Mugabe together with the late former ZANU PF boss, is one of the largest milk processing ventures in the country and also employs hundreds of people.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/former-first-lady-gets-government-assistance/">The Sunday Mail</a>

Grace Mugabe Approaches Govt For Help

Kwekwe and its surrounding towns have been the home of gangs involved in informal gold and chrome mining in the city. The gangs have been known to be violent towards one another as well as members of the public, with deaths, injuries becoming commonplace in the past several years.
The gangs carry machetes, homemade spears, bows, and arrows, improvised swords, axes and knobkerries which they use wantonly on opposing gangs and ordinary people.
The gangs are known to be politically connected and Zimbabwe Republic Police have expressed that they too are afraid of them. Some of the gangs, like Mashurugwi, are known to have political connections in Zanu-PF.
Here are the names of some of the well-known gangs and their operating areas:
<ul>
<li>Al Shabaab – whose base is at Black Wadada and Gaika Mine is their main territory.</li>
<li>Mashurugwi – originally from the small mining town of Shurugwi</li>
<li>Anaconda – headquartered in Amaveni</li>
<li>Mazero – from village head Gideon’s area (rural gang)</li>
<li>Zviuranda  – from Uranda and Mashanda rural areas. (rural gang)</li>
<li>Sithekutheku – a group dominated by the Fengu sub-ethnic community. it conducts regular raids in the Mathe community (rural)</li>
<li>Maketo – operates in Chiundura, also close to Kwekwe. Regularly bands up with Al Shabaab.</li>
<li>Mukwade – a gang that operates in the Empress area</li>
</ul>
<h3>Related:</h3>
<ul>
<li class="entry-title">
<h4><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/04/01/machete-wielding-gangs-terrorise-kwekwe-residents/" rel="bookmark">Machete-wielding Gangs Terrorise Kwekwe Residents</a></h4>
</li>
<li class="entry-title">
<h4><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/02/26/full-text-zrp-kwekwe-urged-to-deal-with-machete-and-gun-gangs-in-the-mining-sector-in-kwekwe/" rel="bookmark">FULL TEXT: ZRP Urged to Deal with Machete and Gun Gangs in Kwekwe</a></h4>
</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2019/04/07/unmasking-machete-terror-gangs-spreading-mayhem-midlands/">The Standard</a>

List Of The Kwekwe Machete Gangs

Kwekwe and its surrounding towns have been the home of gangs involved in informal gold and chrome mining in the city. The gangs have been known to be violent towards one another as well as members of the public, with deaths, injuries becoming commonplace in the past several years.
The gangs carry machetes, homemade spears, bows, and arrows, improvised swords, axes and knobkerries which they use wantonly on opposing gangs and ordinary people.
The gangs are known to be politically connected and Zimbabwe Republic Police have expressed that they too are afraid of them. Some of the gangs, like Mashurugwi, are known to have political connections in Zanu-PF.
Here are the names of some of the well-known gangs and their operating areas:
<ul>
<li>Al Shabaab – whose base is at Black Wadada and Gaika Mine is their main territory.</li>
<li>Mashurugwi – originally from the small mining town of Shurugwi</li>
<li>Anaconda – headquartered in Amaveni</li>
<li>Mazero – from village head Gideon’s area (rural gang)</li>
<li>Zviuranda  – from Uranda and Mashanda rural areas. (rural gang)</li>
<li>Sithekutheku – a group dominated by the Fengu sub-ethnic community. it conducts regular raids in the Mathe community (rural)</li>
<li>Maketo – operates in Chiundura, also close to Kwekwe. Regularly bands up with Al Shabaab.</li>
<li>Mukwade – a gang that operates in the Empress area</li>
</ul>
<h3>Related:</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<h4><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/machete-wielding-gangs-terrorise-kwekwe-residents/" rel="bookmark">Machete-wielding Gangs Terrorise Kwekwe Residents</a></h4>
</li>
<li>
<h4><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/full-text-zrp-kwekwe-urged-to-deal-with-machete-and-gun-gangs-in-the-mining-sector-in-kwekwe/" rel="bookmark">FULL TEXT: ZRP Urged to Deal with Machete and Gun Gangs in Kwekwe</a></h4>
</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2019/04/07/unmasking-machete-terror-gangs-spreading-mayhem-midlands/">The Standard</a>

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