Bring Back the SANDF and End the Zama Zama Tyranny in Benoni
We, the concerned residents of Benoni, Ekurhuleni, urgently call on the petitions and safety committees in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and NCOP, the President of South Africa, the Ministers of Police, Defence, Mineral Resources, Forestry & Fisheries, and Home Affairs — to redeploy the SANDF and their task team to Benoni and establish a permanent multi-departmental task force to end the reign of fear and violence brought on by illegal mining (Zama Zamas).
For years, Benoni has suffered under the escalating lawlessness of illegal mining operations:
• Explosions up to 30 times a day
• Gunfights between rival gangs
• Environmental destruction, including blocked rivers, gaping holes, and broken sewerage infrastructure
• Severe damage to property and municipal assets
•Loss of business investment and community safety
Despite the limited SANDF intervention, the crisis persists.
When the SANDF was briefly deployed in Benoni, peace returned for approximately three months —with the right resources, this crisis can be controlled. But a few weeks after their departure, the gunfire resumed. The site was handed back to Benoni SAPS, yet no further visible action has been taken, further proof that the local authorities cannot handle the situation as they are not trained in this type of operation.
Recently, a bullet landed in the backyard of a resident in Morehill across the highway from the mines, showing the reach of this violence.
The local SAPS, EMPD, and private security forces do not have the manpower or resources to combat well-armed and organized criminal mining gangs.
We therefore request:
1. The immediate redeployment of the SANDF to Benoni, with a clear operational mandate and timeline;
2. The establishment of a permanent anti-illegal mining task force involving SAPS, SANDF, Mineral Resources, and Home Affairs;
3. Closure of illegal smelting operations and black-market explosives supply chains;
4. Ongoing community safety monitoring and reporting with public transparency;
5. Environmental remediation of affected areas.
This is no longer just an environmental or economic concern — this is a matter of public safety, security, and human rights.
We call on all levels of government, the petitions and safety committees in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and NCOP, to act decisively and immediately.
Sign and share this petition.
Help us take back our community from the grip of fear.
Cllr Lornette Joseph Contact the author of the petition