Zama zamas are back in Buffelsdoorn

Aaron Mayekiso

As the communities of Stilfontein and Khuma are in the middle of a crisis where illegal miners
are trapped under ground and this is making headlines in every media outlet. Other illegal
miners had to make alternative plans and find refuge to other abandoned shafts to continue
their business.

In the beginning of this month (November) it is allerged that some zama
zamas escaped from Stilfontein and came to Buffelsdoorn old shaft to occupy it and
continued their illegal operations. After the police closed all shafts in Stilfontein group of
illegal mine workers came to Buffelsdoorn the police are currently working around the clock
to arrest them but unfortunately no arrests are been made so far but the danger part that our
community is facing criminality that comes with illegal mining as well as the white farmers.
Scary and irritating sound of blasting of rocks could be heard now and then. The trembling of
land and houses is scary and this causes the community to be not at ease. The way the
illegal miners are blasting the rocks, the blast affects animals and houses very bad other
houses which are situated near the old mine are suffering the cracks which is something that
escalates on daily basis.

Members of our communities are even afraid to go and fetch some
fire wood in the veld because these illegal miners are so dangerous to them as they are
armed with guns and other dangerous weapons. White farmers complain about the blasting
every day because the noise affect their animals and they are restless. I believe that police
presence should be tightened in Buffelsdoorn just like in Stilfontein in order to end illegal
mining.