Zuko Komisa
- Official surveys have found no evidence of gold, echoing a previous unconfirmed “chrome rush” in the area.
- Residents report severe upheaval and safety risks as excavations encroach on homes and public spaces.
- Police are monitoring the site to prevent violence but have yet to halt the unsanctioned mining activities.
Hundreds of residents have descended upon the Gugulethu informal settlement in Springs, transformed by rumours of gold-bearing soil on South Africa’s Witwatersrand belt.
The sudden influx has turned local fields into a network of hazardous trenches, forcing residents to relocate livestock and vehicles to make way for the frantic digging.
The “gold rush” has sparked significant local frustration, with residents comparing the chaotic scene to “zama zama” operations, which are strictly prohibited under South African law.
Beyond the noise and property damage, there are mounting fears of ground collapses and structural instability as the digging intensifies despite the lack of official confirmation of any precious metals.
Landowners have lodged formal complaints regarding the destruction of their property, yet the police response remains largely observational.
While authorities have confirmed that no gold exists in the surveyed soil, the hopeful panners continue to sift for flakes, leaving the community caught between a desperate search for wealth and deteriorating safety conditions.
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