A 27-YEAR-OLD suspect was shot dead by cops on Tuesday, 6 May.
This happened in Driekop under Fetakgomo Tubatse, in the Sekhukhune District, Limpopo.
Five more suspects aged between 31 and 46 were also arrested.
According to police, the deacesed, along with the arrested suspects, were attempting to extort money from truck drivers in one of the Driekop mines.
Their attempts failed after cops responded to a complaint from the area.
Police spokesman Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said: "A group of suspects blocked about 22 mine trucks and demanded money as a condition before they could load any minerals.
"Another complainant, who was a service provider at the mine, was also threatened by the suspects and ordered to give them money from the payment he received from the mine."
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Ledwaba said the suspects fired gunshots at the police after they arrived at the scene.
"Police retaliated. One suspect aged 27 was shot at, and five others were then arrested. His identity is withheld pending further investigations," he said.
Some of the confiscated items during the arrest include one firearm with four live ammunition and five cellphones.
Some villagers said they now live in fear.
Nakedi Mathabatha (34) from Ga-Mathipa said: "We now fear for our lives. Many wrong things are happening in these mines, and we don't feel safe."
Another resident, Mathews Kekana (54) from Ga-Mamphahlane, called for the South African Defence Force (SANDF) to step in.
"One day, we are going to get caught in the crossfire. Police officers need help. We believe that with SANDF members, our problems will be solved in these mines."
Arrested suspects will appear in the local courts in due course.
