Sporong residents still fear attacks as families await relocation
Months after suspected zama-zamas forced nearly 600 people to flee the Sporong informal settlement in Randfontein, many families still wait for new homes. The Gauteng human settlements department says it has allocated homes to 177 households.
The department says 28 approved Sporong households still wait for homes. It is processing 19 further applications. Spokesperson Tahir Sema said 26 households received houses on 29 October. He said delays in completing housing units slowed the relocations.
Sema also said illegal mining around Sporong creates safety challenges for residents and officials. He said the remaining households will join the next allocation, with other targeted informal settlements in the Rand West City local municipality.
Resident Maria Motlhasadi said people live in fear because they do not know what will happen in the festive season, and they still have trauma. Residents said the government response was short-lived. They said soldiers stayed only a few days and the mobile police station left about four months ago without explanation.
Community leader Elsie Mokobane said there have been no further attacks since the interventions.
Key facts
- Who
- Maria Motlhasadi (Sporong resident of more than six years); Portia Thembani (Sporong resident attacked in December last year); Goodman Lubisa (Sporong resident); Elsie Mokobane (community leader in Sporong)
- What
- Months after violent attacks by suspected zama-zamas forced nearly 600 residents of Sporong to flee, scores of families are still waiting for government relocation. The Gauteng human settlements department says it has allocated homes to 177 Sporong households and 28 approved households are still waiting.
- When
- 2 November 2026
- Where
- Sporong, Randfontein, Gauteng
- Status
- Reported