The presidency deploys SANDF to fight zama-zamas (illegal mining)
It is alleged the president of South Africa has deployed soldiers to be part of the on-going fight against illegal mining in South Africa. This comes after numerous reports of violence imposed on South African Citizens by the illegal miners and the fact that its an illegal sector that causes a huge dent on the economy of South Africa. It has also been alleged that this illegal mining sector has been run by foreigners, of which they make up more than half of all illegal mining activities that take place in South Africa. The police have been trying to tackle illegal mining for quite some time and have failed dismally in shutting it down hence the deployment of the SANDF. With the police's failure the government has resorted to deploying the military in the aim to eradicate illegal mining, the operation is estimated to cost close to half a billion. By the Chamber's estimation, illegal mining activities on operating mines conservatively cost the economy more than R7 billion e...