Police Minister Bheki Cele says 14 suspects have now been charged for the rape of the 8 women at an abandoned mine near Krugersdorp.
The women were with a filming crew, about 2 weeks ago, when they were attacked, robbed, and sexually assaulted.
Cele, during an address to the National Council of Provinces, said the problem of illegal miners and zama zamas is not a new problem for the country.
Audio PlayerThe Minister says several task teams have been set up in the past to address the issues and criminality associated with these illegal miners.
Audio PlayerCele conceded that the police, on its own, will not be able to deal decisively with illegal mining activities.
He was joined by the Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe for the briefing.
Cele said safeguarding the country’s precious resources from criminals and keeping communities safe required a strengthening of border control and immigration.
The Minister says locals claim that illegal miners have terrorized their area for years, and community members have now resorted to raiding the shacks of suspected zama zamas.
Cele said businesses also had a role to play.
He also said mining companies needed to ensure that the land, property, and space were fully secured and difficult to access.
Cele suggested that companies employ private security services to guard and patrol properties and areas of operation to minimize opportunities for illegal miners.
He says illegal mining has a range of negative social and financial impacts on the state, business, the mining sector, and the communities that once benefitted from these mines.
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Die polisie het ’n deurbraak gemaak in sy ondersoek na die Krugersdorp-bendeverkragting deur 14 verdagtes regstreeks met dié gru-dade te verbind. 7 van hulle het reeds gister in die landdroshof in Krugersdorp verskyn en die jongste was slegs 15 jaar oud. #smile904fmnews
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