Police discover the bodies of 8 suspected zama-zamas in Roodepoort open veld
Police officers and members of the Johannesburg K9 unit made the grisly discovery in a field in Roodepoort.
Crime scene tape
JOHANNESBURG - Eight bodies of suspected illegal miners have been found in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg.
Robertville community members stumbled upon the bodies, riddled with gunshot wounds, in a field on Tuesday.
After a police search in the area, six more bodies were uncovered by the officers and members of the South African Police Service K9 unit in Johannesburg.
The police's Mavela Masondo says the motive for the killings is being investigated.
“Police were alerted by the community members about two people who were lying in an open veld in Robberville, Florida. Upon arrival at the scene, police officers including members of Johannesburg K9, conducted a search in the area. A total of eight bodies were discovered.
“The motive for the killing cannot be confirmed at this stage, although it is suspected to be linked to an ongoing feud over illegal mining territory by illegal miners,” he said.