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JOHANNESBURG. – A protest against illegal miners in Kagiso, Krugersdorp yesterday took an unexpected turn early yesterday when residents found suspected illgal miners, commonly known as “zama zamas”, near mine dumps and allegedly stripped them of their clothing before they whipped them.

Residents clashed with police, dodged rubber bullets and barricaded roads.

The residents claimed police had failed them. So, they divided themselves into groups – some armed with sticks, sjamboks and axes – and took to the streets. Some of them burnt grass that covered mine dumps as they searched for “zama zamas”.

Eight people who were believed to be zama zamas”, fled from the area.

As they combed the mine dumps, they found more than 20 men who, they said, claimed their bosses had brought them to South Africa from Mozambique to mine gold illegally.

The residents stripped them, whipped them and burnt their clothing before police and private security officials in a helicopter rescued them.

Security officials also rescued a man enraged community members had caught.

They said the man claimed he was from Zimbabwe and that he had been lured by fellow Zimbabweans to process gold in South Africa. – News24.c0m