Illegal mining violence: New Modder on a knife-edge 

9 February 2015

Residents of New Modder, Ekurhuleni, are living in fear as violence between gangs of illegal miners continued unabated throughout Sunday night.

During the past few weeks, a number of illegal miners lost their lives in what appears to be a turf wars between the rival gangs. 

It now appears that this violence is now spilling over in to residential areas, putting the lives of innocents at risk.

Exchanges of gunfire and explosions rocked New Modder throughout Sunday evening, with illegal miners darting between homes to outflank one another.

It is preposterous that law-abiding citizens are caught up in the chaos and are forced to live in fear.

More SAPS officers should be deployed to the area to ensure the safety of residents.

Provincial Commissioner, General Mothiba, and Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane need to face the reality that it is a war zone in Ekurhuleni before there are any further unnecessary casualties.

The DA will put pressure on both the MEC and the Provincial Police Commissioner to act timeously on this matter. 

Statement issued by Michele Clarke MPL, DA Gauteng spokesperson on Community Safety, February 9 2015

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