Police deployed permanently as Sporong residents return home

Residents from the Sporong informal settlement, who were driven away from their homes by zama zamas, finally returned on Friday.

Earlier this month, more than 600 people were crammed into the Randgate community hall in Rand West.

Following intervention from the provincial administration and police, many have returned to their homes while others have been moved to alternative accommodation.

A police helicopter conducted regular patrols of the decommissioned mines near the informal settlement in search of zama zamas.

On the ground, there were at least three police Nyalas, a mobile police station, and several police vans stationed in the area.

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Resident Sphiwe Khambula said the community appreciated the strong police presence.

"I would be lying if I said there has been attacks by zama zamas since we got back. We are still safe. Yes, sometimes we can hear gunshots but they are far away unlike before," Khambula said.

While some residents questioned how long the police would remain in place, police minister Firoz Cachalia said this was a permanent deployment.