‘Rigged for a war’: Zama Zama gun battles shut N4 and disrupt agriculture in Mpumalanga

Police investigating the discovery of two bodies in the Mashobote area near Schoemanskloof in Mpumalanga said that the killings may be linked to an ongoing turf war between rival groups of illegal miners.Police also recovered rifle and pistol cartridges at the scene, while an AK-47 magazine and live ammunition were seized in the same area on Wednesday.Gun battles between rival Zama Zama groups are spilling onto the N4, leading to road closures and disrupting agriculture and other businesses in the region.

"The Zama Zamas have been operating for many years, and we have been very concerned for a while now, and we are taking hands with the local authorities to try and address this issue."

He said the impact of illegal mining operations is underestimated, both regionally and nationally.  

"The impact on agriculture and, I think, the economy as a whole is huge."