JOHANNESBURG – Gun violence petrifies Plastic City residents as yet another shooting shattered the early morning calm in the Brakpan informal settlement. On Thursday morning, the community awoke not to the sound of birds or children heading to school, but to the terrifying crack of gunfire.
The incident, reported by local authorities, was linked to ongoing turf wars between rival groups of illegal miners—commonly referred to as zama zamas—who have turned the neighborhood into a conflict zone. The gunmen, believed to be part of these rival factions, fired indiscriminately, sowing fear and chaos among families already traumatized by ongoing violence.
This is not an isolated incident. It marks the second shooting in the area in less than a week, amplifying the already mounting anxiety among residents who say they are afraid to return to their homes.
Gunfire and Chaos Leave Plastic City Residents in Fear
On 30 August 2025, a similarly violent episode unfolded. According to eyewitnesses, a group of armed men emerged from a nearby dumping site, shooting randomly and without warning. That attack left two people dead and several others injured.
Now, just days later, another attack has rocked the settlement—this time with no fatalities, but significant property damage. Several homes were set ablaze, leaving families displaced and more fearful than ever.
The constant fear of violence has driven many residents to flee the area, seeking shelter elsewhere in Brakpan or in Johannesburg’s inner Plastic City. According to community members, it is not just the danger of being caught in the crossfire that terrifies them, but the sense of lawlessness and the apparent inability of law enforcement to prevent these recurring attacks.
Speaking to police and local media, several residents described their terror in chilling detail. One mother of three, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, said she grabbed her children and ran as soon as she heard gunfire.
“We don’t feel safe anymore. Our children can’t go to school. We can’t go to work. We live in fear every day,” she said, her voice trembling. “Gun violence petrifies Plastic City residents like never before.”
Another resident described how her neighbor’s shack was set on fire during the Thursday morning incident.
“It’s like a war zone. You never know when they’ll come back. The police come and go, but the zama zamas return with more guns,” she said.
Police confirmed they are investigating the latest incident and have opened cases of arson and attempted murder. However, no arrests have yet been made.
Brakpan Police spokesperson Captain Daniel Moloi acknowledged the community’s frustration and confirmed that extra patrols have been deployed to the area.
“We are working closely with other law enforcement agencies to address the illegal mining operations and restore order in Plastic City. The safety of residents is our top priority,” said Moloi.
Still, many residents believe more urgent and sustained action is needed. They argue that police presence is often too little, too late, and that the heavily armed illegal miners are operating with impunity.
Illegal mining in South Africa, particularly in Gauteng, has become a significant source of violence and instability. These miners often operate in dangerous, abandoned shafts and are known to be heavily armed. Their turf wars frequently spill into nearby communities, turning informal settlements like Plastic City into battlegrounds.
Experts warn that without coordinated intervention from government, law enforcement, and mining regulators, the problem will only worsen. The accessibility of illegal firearms, high unemployment, and lack of service delivery in such settlements only fuel the cycle of violence.
For now, the residents of Plastic City continue to live in fear. Many have taken temporary refuge in community halls, churches, or with relatives in safer parts of the city. Others sleep outdoors, unwilling to risk returning to homes that may no longer be there—or safe.
The trauma is deep, especially for children, many of whom have been exposed to repeated gunfire, arson, and death in their own neighborhood.
“Our children are growing up surrounded by violence,” said a local teacher. “They don’t talk about dreams or school anymore—they talk about guns and survival. Gun violence has completely changed their world.”
With no end in sight to the violence, Plastic City’s residents are calling on authorities to act decisively. Many want illegal mining operations shut down, more visible police presence, and long-term plans to develop and formalize the settlement so that it no longer remains a haven for criminal activity.
Until then, gun violence continues to petrify Plastic City residents, leaving them trapped in a place they once called home—but now fear every single day.
Source- EWN
