News / Regional
Two axed in gold rush stampede
11 Sep 2014 at 07:20hrs | Views
TWO illegal miners were axed while 11 others were arrested in violence that broke out over a gold mining claim in Matobo District.
The stampede, another rush for the yellow metal after two recent finds in Inyathi in Matabeleland North, saw groups of panners numbering more than 100, from Esigodini and Matobo reportedly fighting with axes and picks for gold at Nugget Mine.
Panners from Esigodini invaded the mine at Matopos Research area on Tuesday and allegedly violently displaced a rival group of illegal miners.
Police officers in Matobo reportedly failed to contain the situation and are said to have called for back-up from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Border Control and Minerals Unit in Plumtree.
It is said the gold claim belonged to Ephraim Khoza whose permit to mine recently expired.
Trouble started last week when reports of a huge gold deposit a few metres below the ground was reportedly discovered by unlicensed miners.
Miners rushed to Matobo where the Mac Mageza Syndicate were already mining.
"It was a free for all brawl and Edwin Manguzu Tshuma was struck with an axe on the nose. Another man was axed on the shoulder. They were both taken to hospital," said one of the panners.
A senior police officer said 11 illegal gold panners were arrested at the site.
"The place was flooded with illegal miners who were at each other's throats battling for gold which was in the area.
"About 100 gold panners invaded the mine in Matobo in three different groups on the same night.
"There was a gold rush, the mineral was just near the surface and they were using detectors to trace it.
"When the police arrived at the mine all the gold panners had fled and the police proceeded them were reported to have picked up to 2kgs of gold," said the police officer.
He said police details who attended the scene destroyed three shacks which belonged to the gold panners and confiscated 60 twists of dagga which were hidden in one of the shacks.
"Three detectors belonging to Ephraim Khoza of Mac Mageza syndicate were also confiscated. Ten shovels, seven picks, one compressor, an axe, a wheelbarrow, six monitors and seven pestles were also confiscated," said the officer.
The eleven gold panners who were arrested are Isuelihle Sithole, 27, Mhlamuli Ndlovu, 34, Patrick Nyambo, 28, Khazimulo Bhebhe, 18, Mpumelelo Bhebhe, 20, Thembelani Ndlovu, 27, Khulekani Moyo, 32, Oscar Moyo, 45, Ephraim Khoza, 45, Ishameal Moyo, 35 and Lungisani Mahlangu, 29.
They are expected to appear in court on September 25, for trial.
The stampede, another rush for the yellow metal after two recent finds in Inyathi in Matabeleland North, saw groups of panners numbering more than 100, from Esigodini and Matobo reportedly fighting with axes and picks for gold at Nugget Mine.
Panners from Esigodini invaded the mine at Matopos Research area on Tuesday and allegedly violently displaced a rival group of illegal miners.
Police officers in Matobo reportedly failed to contain the situation and are said to have called for back-up from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Border Control and Minerals Unit in Plumtree.
It is said the gold claim belonged to Ephraim Khoza whose permit to mine recently expired.
Trouble started last week when reports of a huge gold deposit a few metres below the ground was reportedly discovered by unlicensed miners.
Miners rushed to Matobo where the Mac Mageza Syndicate were already mining.
"It was a free for all brawl and Edwin Manguzu Tshuma was struck with an axe on the nose. Another man was axed on the shoulder. They were both taken to hospital," said one of the panners.
A senior police officer said 11 illegal gold panners were arrested at the site.
"The place was flooded with illegal miners who were at each other's throats battling for gold which was in the area.
"About 100 gold panners invaded the mine in Matobo in three different groups on the same night.
"There was a gold rush, the mineral was just near the surface and they were using detectors to trace it.
"When the police arrived at the mine all the gold panners had fled and the police proceeded them were reported to have picked up to 2kgs of gold," said the police officer.
He said police details who attended the scene destroyed three shacks which belonged to the gold panners and confiscated 60 twists of dagga which were hidden in one of the shacks.
"Three detectors belonging to Ephraim Khoza of Mac Mageza syndicate were also confiscated. Ten shovels, seven picks, one compressor, an axe, a wheelbarrow, six monitors and seven pestles were also confiscated," said the officer.
The eleven gold panners who were arrested are Isuelihle Sithole, 27, Mhlamuli Ndlovu, 34, Patrick Nyambo, 28, Khazimulo Bhebhe, 18, Mpumelelo Bhebhe, 20, Thembelani Ndlovu, 27, Khulekani Moyo, 32, Oscar Moyo, 45, Ephraim Khoza, 45, Ishameal Moyo, 35 and Lungisani Mahlangu, 29.
They are expected to appear in court on September 25, for trial.
Source - chronicle
