Скачать или смотреть Illegal Mining | Residents wait eagerly for SANDF deployment

Residents of the Sporong informal settlement in Randfontein have urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to fast-track the deployment of the South African National Defence Force, saying they no longer feel safe in their homes.

More than 600 families, mostly women and children, have fled the area west of Johannesburg following a surge in violence, related to illegal mining.

Residents say they were forced to abandon their homes as the situation escalated.

Since November last year, they claim the community has been terrorised by illegal miners, who have allegedly threatened to kidnap their children.

Sporong is among the areas expected to receive army deployment, as announced by Ramaphosa during last week's State of the Nation Address.

SABC News Reporter Calvin Dludla has more on this story.

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