Fourteen illegal miners “zama zamas” were arrested and several unlicensed firearms confiscated following a shootout with the police near the Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg on Monday.
Gauteng Police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini says police received a tip off about a heavily armed gang in the area. When they went to investigate, they were shot at.
As a result three suspected illegal miners were killed in a shootout, says Dlamini.
Read: Seven bodies of illegal miners dumped in open veld after being shot
There was a shootout between the gang and the police which resulted in 3 gang members being killed.
— Lungelo Dlamini, Gauteng Saps spokesperson
Dlamini says a similar incident happened in November where four illegal miners were killed following a shootout with the police.
The problem is when these illegal miners are underground and the police cannot get them out.
— Lungelo Dlamini, Gauteng Saps spokesperson
This article first appeared on CapeTalk : 3 illegal miners shot dead following a shootout with police in Boksburg