Six zama zamas found shot dead in Mpumalanga

Police in Mpumalanga have opened a murder investigation after six zama zamas were found shot dead in Mashobote, near Ngodwana, on Saturday.

The bodies were discovered at about 11:00 after a community member alerted police that he had seen what appeared to be human remains on a mountain in the area

Members of the South African Police Service's Illicit Mining Team were dispatched to the scene, where they found six bodies, all with apparent gunshot wounds.

Police have not yet established the circumstances surrounding the killings or identified the victims.

However, preliminary investigations indicate that the deaths may be linked to rivalry between illegal mining groups operating in the area.

Mpumalanga police commissioner Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise expressed concern over the discovery of six bodies at the same location and called for a thorough investigation into the killings.

Police said investigations were continuing and appealed to anyone with information that could assist in the case to come forward.