COPS and soldiers are on a mission to stop illegal mining activities.
Acting on tip offs, they raided places suspected to be hideouts for the zama zamas at Everest and Gugulethu squatter camps in Springs, Ekurhuleni on Monday, 4 March.
These raids are ongoing.
In most places they targeted, the zama zamas had already deserted them after hearing that cops were on their heels.
The SANDF, SAPS and EMPD found bags of soil and phendukas hidden in the rooms.
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In one of the rooms, it seemed a zama zama was sleeping with his bags of soil and he jumped to flee when he heard cops were around.
As police searched further, they found what looked like a factory and several big phendukas.
Everything that was discovered by the cops was destroyed, even the boots that were found.
The police also destroyed dagga plants found on the premises.
Brigadier Ntombizini Thethe, Vosloorus police station commander, led the operation and said the operation is meant to frustrate illegal miners.
She said eight suspects, including six illegal immigrants and two individuals selling liquor without a license, were arrested and illegal mining equipment and alcohol were seized.
These squatter camps are known hives of illegal miners who mine in disused mines in Springs.
Residents said these activities posed danger to their lives.
"We are happy that police disrupt their illegal activities because they open sealed mine shafts, and our children fall inside," said a resident.
Three years ago, Daily Sun published the story of a boy who was playing with his friends fell in an old mine shaft which had accumulated water and drowned.
The shaft, which was sealed was reopened by illegal miners.
Captain Nelda Sekgobela, spokeswoman for Ekurhuleni Police district said the operations are yielding positive results and will continue until illegal mining is eradicated.
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