As police intensified their crack down on illegal miners on the West Rand, about 160km away in Orkney, near Klerkdorp, North West, zama-zamas have turned neighbourhoods into their playgrounds.

The community of Kanana township told Sowetan that illegal mining activities in the area have turned their area into a battle field as rival gangs exchange gunfire all the time. Residents say they fear walking the streets after 6pm. The areas that police officers casually referred a Sowetan team to as most problematic include Ext 11, 12, 13 and Z-section...