Residents of New Parklands have raised serious safety concerns following the return of illegal miners to the council-owned Khumalo sand pit, saying mining activities are now taking place dangerously close to their homes.
Community members report an increase in break-ins and growing insecurity, accusing authorities of failing to act despite repeated complaints.
Speaking to the media, resident Yamurai Nyoni, who has lived in the area for about five years, said illegal miners — commonly known as amakorokoza — have operated in the area for years but the situation worsened recently after they returned in larger numbers.
Nyoni said two house break-ins were recorded last year during a previous wave of illegal mining, but incidents stopped after the miners were chased away. However, residents say the miners are now back and operating openly, often near roads and residential properties.
He expressed concern that the community feels abandoned, warning that confrontations between residents and miners could escalate into violence. In one recent incident, a suspected miner allegedly fled into a resident’s yard while being pursued.
Residents are now appealing to the city council to clear vegetation along nearby roads to improve visibility and assist law enforcement in making arrests. Nyoni also called for investigations into what he described as organised operations, questioning how the miners continue working without interruption.
According to residents, police have indicated that enforcement efforts are limited without support from council authorities, while council rangers — expected to protect municipal resources — are rarely seen in the area.
Nyoni said residents have sent emails and complaints to council officials since October last year but claim there has been little response or visible action.
“We want to see progress. We want safety restored,” he said, adding that residents are not equipped to confront the miners themselves and fear the situation could spiral out of control.
The community is now urging city authorities to intervene urgently, either by enforcing the law or formally regulating activities at the site to protect both residents and public resources.
