Illegal miners have reportedly transformed an abandoned school building on the West Rand into a hostel and processing site, raising concerns about rising crime in the area.
The building, located in Ekuphakameni — a derelict mining village on the outskirts of Carletonville — has become a hotspot for criminal activity, with residents describing the area as a no-go zone. Following the closure of local mines, illegal miners, known as zama zamas, took over the site in 2018.
Recent reports indicate that organised crime, severe violence, and money laundering have intensified in the area. Hundreds of families previously fled the Sporong Informal Settlement in Randfontein due to similar illegal mining activity.
Provincial police said they conducted operations in the area between November and December last year, arresting 205 illegal immigrants and 33 individuals for possession of gold-bearing material. Confiscated illegal mining equipment was dismantled.
Responsibility for the abandoned school remains unclear. The provincial Basic Education Department stated the building falls under the Department of Infrastructure Development, but the infrastructure department said it is not on its records.
With no clear plan to secure or dismantle the building, neighbouring communities remain fearful of further criminal activity and the potential escalation of violence.