Tshwarelo Hunter Mogakane
Police Minister Bheki Cele has changed his tune on the deployment of soldiers to deal with growing unrest relating to the “zama zama” terror affecting residents living near closed mines in Gauteng.
The word “terror” has been used in various communities that have suffered violent attacks by the so-called zama zamas, alleged to be mostly Lesotho nationals.
They are blamed for the spate of armed robberies and rapes committed in communities living near abandoned gold mines that have been taken over by illegal miners.
Last week residents in Kagiso went on the rampage, seeking out zama zama suspects and killing one man in the process. This was after the brutal gang rape and robbery of a movie crew in Krugersdorp.
Cele and law enforcement leaders held an anti-crime imbizo in Krugersdorp and in Kagiso over the weekend, where he said the army would not be deployed.
“We don’t need soldiers to deal with zama zamas.
“The police get training. We have the Tactical Response Unit and the National Intervention Unit. Above these, we have the Special Task Force. Last time we took only two members of the task force and through their efforts we arrested 89 zama zamas. We must unleash all the forces we have in the police and no one will ask for soldiers,” said Cele.
However, on Monday his spokesperson Lirandzu Themba issued a statement in which she quoted Cele saying the community’s request to deploy the army would be considered.
“The request to bring in the army will be considered when the need arises. This process takes a long time.
“However, in the meantime, the police’s response to flush out these zama zamas will continue, bolstered by reinforcement of the specialised units, who will be deployed here while the government works on a broader plan to tackle the whole value chain of illicit mining and its benefactors.”
The change of tune followed reports that the SANDF had placed 200 soldiers on standby to deal with protests.
In a document seen by the Pretoria News, general officer commanding the South African Army Infantry Formation, Major-General Patrick Ncube, gave instructions for 200 “combat ready” soldiers to be “on standby”.
“The situation in the Republic of South Africa is gradually deteriorating into unrest due to criminality within the borders.
“This is also exacerbated by a perceived lack of action from the security forces to combat criminality.
“It is foreseen that the SANDF might be called to play a secondary role and, in this case, it will be to support or co-operate with the SAPS.
“It is in this regard that the SA Army Infantry Formation has been ordered to go on 25-hour standby in anticipation of deploying in support or co-operation with the SAPS,” Ncube said.
Department of Defence spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini was not available for comment.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya could not respond to questions about whether the president had issued the standby instruction.
National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said she could neither confirm nor deny whether the SAPS had made a request for SANDF deployment, saying the police were dealing with the issue of the zama zamas.
Pretoria News