Alleged illegal miners open fire near N4 in Schoemanskloof, road briefly closed

Gunfire was reported on the N4 in Schoemanskloof on 29 September, prompting a temporary road closure while police attended the scene, according to The Citizen / Lowvelder.

What happened

According to The Citizen / Lowvelder, the shooting began at about 08:30 on 29 September at a known illegal‑mining site on the Crocodile River near Montrose, alongside the N4 in Schoemanskloof, Mpumalanga. The article describes the incident as a reported shootout involving alleged illegal miners.

Road disruption and advice to motorists

The Citizen / Lowvelder reported that the N4 was temporarily closed at the Montrose and Crossings junctions while police attended. Motorists were advised to divert via Ngodwana or Waterval Boven. The road was later reopened, though police remained in the area.

Police response

Mpumalanga SAPS spokesperson Brigadier General Donald Mdhluli told The Citizen / Lowvelder that police “could not find anything” after the shooting and suspected the shooters had fled when they saw officers. He was quoted saying:

“We continue to monitor the area and hope to find out what the cause of the shootout was.”

Context and safety warning

The Citizen / Lowvelder noted the shooting occurred at the same site where at least four people were killed in a shootout on 28 August. In a separate developing Lowvelder report, the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison warned that crossfire between zama zamas near a farm posed a danger to motorists and quoted department spokesperson Moeti Mmusi advising motorists to use the Ngodwana or Waterval Boven routes.

What remains unclear

The Citizen / Lowvelder’s reporting states the cause of the shooting and the identities of those involved remain unclear; the article does not establish who fired first or confirm identities.