" Riverlea illegal mining protests: Frustrated top cop fumes over zama-zamas opening shut mine shafts" 2 August 2023

At least five people had been killed during a shootout between warring zama-zamas in Riverlea, south of Joburg allegedly due to illegal mining and related conflicts. The community members said lawlessness had become the order of the day in the area, with bullets flying as rival illegal mining gangs, known as zama-zamas fight for control. On Wednesday, Gauteng deputy commissioner of police, Major General Tommy Mthombeni was leading the law enforcement intervention to clamp down on illegal mining and arrest the operators.