The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) say the suspects, all believed to be Lesotho nationals, were heavily armed and allegedly involved in illegal mining activities, commonly known as zama‑zamas.
The arrests followed a coordinated raid carried out by members of the JMPD’s Region F1 Operations, the CCTV Unit and SA Police Service tactical teams. The operation was launched after authorities received what they described as a credible tip‑off about a group operating in the Kaserne area and the nearby city and suburban districts.
JMPD Spokesperson Xolani Fihla said officers searched a shack in the settlement where the 13 suspects were found. During the search, police recovered two unlicensed firearms and 92 rounds of live ammunition.
“The JMPD Region F1 Operations members, the CCTV Unit, and SAPS tactical teams acted on a credible tip‑off regarding a group of heavily armed Lesotho nationals,” Fihla said. “The group was reportedly operating out of the Kaserne Informal Settlement and was allegedly involved in illegal mining activities within the City and Suburban areas.”
Preliminary investigations suggest the group may have been responsible for terrorising residents of the informal settlement and surrounding business districts. Police said the seizure of the firearms and ammunition represents a significant blow to criminal activity in the area.
“The removal of these high‑calibre rounds and illegal firearms serves as a significant blow to the local criminal infrastructure,” Fihla added.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
