African National Congress (ANC) councillor Msimelelo Lobi, has called for the army to be deployed in Riverlea, south of Johannesburg, where tensions are mounting.
This follows protests that resulted from the killing of five illegal miners in the area during a turf war.
He says the situation at the nearby Zamimpilo informal settlement is terrible, as the community and police are out on Wednesday morning in search of illegal miners in the area.
Members of the community have also held protests, accusing the police of not doing enough to ensure their safety.
The police in the meantime say they have so far arrested about 15 people during a joint SAPS and Metro Police operation.
Lobi says Zamimpilo is now becoming a no-go area.
“It’s very terrible, as a ward 68 councillor elected, I’ve went through Zamimpilo, residents can feel when those illegal miners are mining. Their shacks have holes. Zamimpilo is becoming a no-go area, highly dangerous in South Africa within the ward. I think what we just need is the army to rescue us from this.”
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