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Zama zamas gunfight leaves five people dead in Riverlea

By Itumeleng Maloka Five bodies were discovered following a shootout between two rival groups of zama zamas in Riverlea, Johannesburg. According to the Gauteng police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the incident which occurred on Saturday night is believed to be linked to a territorial conflict between the zama zamas. Masondo also confirmed that SAPS deployed officers from the tactical response team and public order policing to monitor the area. DA shadow Minister of Mineral Resources, James Lorimer, reported that the residents alerted him about heavily armed men moving through suburban areas. Lorimer further stated that the area has turned into a epicentre of criminality where rival gangs regularly shoot at each other in an attempt to assert control over the Zamimphilo mining settlement. Lorimer also stated that despite the fact that the area has turned into a conflict zone, the police are usually absent. “There have been many gun battles in and around Zamimphilo and Riverlea for months. Police are usually absent from these battles,” Lorimer’s said. He further called on the police to let the citizens know what they are doing about illegal miners in the area, noting that until they do so, the belief will spread that they are incapable of dealing with illegal miners. Five bodies were discovered following a shootout between two rival groups of zama zamas in Riverlea, Johannesburg.