Kagiso residents flee their homes after alleged Zama Zama threats

Sporong informal settlement residents in Randgate communit hall

Tensions remain high at the Randgate community hall in Kagiso, west of Johannesburg, where about 500 residents of the Sporong informal settlement have sought shelter.

They say they fled their homes two weeks ago following intimidation from illegal miners commonly known as Zama Zamas.

Residents say there is a lack of safety and a shortage of food.

Community leader Thembela Conjwa has called on government to urgently intervene.

“We are being terrorised each and every day by Zama Zamas every day. They come to our home and take all our belongings. Choosing to flee from our place and leave our belongings behind just for safety doesn’t prove anything to our government or municipality that we are fearing for our lives.”

WATCH | Around 300 families from the Seporong informal settlement in Randfontein have fled their homes after threats and violence from illegal miners and are now sheltering in an overcrowded community hall. Calvin Dludla reports. pic.twitter.com/ESyl7MnHbd

— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 21, 2026

EFF in Gauteng is calling for the immediate deployment of law enforcement to the Sporong informal settlement in Kagiso.

In a statement, the EFF has called for the deployment of the SANDF.

“The EFF calls for the immediate mobilisation and deployment of all law enforcement resources, including competent tactical, technical and intelligence capacity to decisively flush out all illegal mining operations and criminal groups in the area. We firmly believe that the involvement of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is necessary as these developments amount to a direct undermining of the authority of the state and pose a serious threat to national security.”

The EFF Gauteng Notes With Serious Concern, the Deeping Humanitarian and Security Crisis Faced by Residents of Sporong in Kagiso. This Crisis Arises from Violent Intimidation, Terror, and Forceful Displacement carried out by Illegal Miners, commonly known as Zama-zamas. pic.twitter.com/p16VWF3gWP

— EFF Gauteng (@EFFGautengProv) January 21, 2026