Nandipha Manyaka's wheelchair-bound husband survived after he was shot allegedly by illegal miners in 2020 and next week she will be laying to rest her brother-in-law, who was also alleged to have been killed by zama zamas who robbed a church last week.
Phumlani Mbewana, was killed during a robbery at Beth Semash City of Glory (BSCG) church in Bekkersdal last week.
It is alleged that men wearing blankets and balaclavas invaded a midnight prayer and took 14 cellphones from congregants and R150 from the pastor.
Mbewana went outside during the night prayer to check on a car alarm that went off nearby.
Congregants then heard three gunshots before an injured Mbewana was led back into the church by eight armed men wearing blankets and balaclavas.
“The Zama Zamas (illegal miners) have destroyed our family. My husband is wheelchair-bound and was retrenched from work because of these people. Now the zama zamas have killed my husband’s younger brother. How many people must die before something is done to put an end on the pain caused by zama zamas in Bekkersdal,” said Manyaka.
The church members were preparing for a women's conference when the robbery took place.
“The armed group instructed everyone to lie on the ground. They searched us and took our cellphones. Some of our male church members were assaulted by the group,” said BSCG member Noncedo Somtsewu.
This is one of a number of incidents that have led Bekkersdal residents to call for the deployment of the police Tactical Response Team (TRT) in their community. Terrified residents want the TRT to help end rising shooting incidents associated with clashing illegal mining gangs in the Rand West. They are planning a march to the police station next week.
According to ward 31 councillor Phillip Mofokeng, six fatal shooting incidents suspected to be linked to fighting between waring illegal miners were recorded in his ward in the past two weeks.
While residents fear being caught in the crossfire, the Bekkersdal police station locks its gates at night. People seeking police assistance late at night are forced to shout from the main gate to get the officers' attention.
“The police officers in Bekkersdal are cowards. They are aware of increasing shootings but they decide to lock themselves inside the station. Clearly the police station is not well-equipped to deal with the violent crimes we are witnessing everyday,” said Mofokeng.
Rand West municipal council speaker Dumile Sithole said the purpose of next week's march is to call for increased police resources in Bekkersdal. It is also meant to encourage residents not to rent out accommodation space to undocumented migrants.
“The people that are involved in these shootings and illegal mining activities live within this community. Most of these people are known to us. These criminals are renting in our yards. Before we can blame every crime on foreign nationals let us first implement tight vetting systems for those seeking rental accommodation in our yards,” said Sithole.
Bekkersdal police confirmed that a murder case had been opened in the Mbewana matter.
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Brenda Muridili did not reply to questions sent to her by the time of going to print last night.
nzimandeb@sowetan.co.za
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