While government will do all it can to assist small-scale mining, calls to legalise illegal mining operations in the Matjhabeng area would continue to fall on deaf ears.
“Government does not endorse illegal mining and those found guilty will be met with the full might of the law,” said deputy minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Dr Nobuhle Nkabana.
She was speaking at the Mining Consultative Engagement Forum, hosted by the Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Ferdi Meyer Hall in Welkom on Thursday (21/07).
“Matjhabeng, once a hub of job creation and economic activity because of the mining activities that dominated the locality, is now a shadow of its former self. The closure of mines has left countless people jobless and has contributed significantly to the drop in economic activity.
“For these and other reasons, a mining consultative meeting was held to address issues related to the mining industry and start a dialogue between stakeholders to forge a way forward,” says Khojane Matutle, manager Communications, Marketing and Branding of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality.
Nkabana also provided feedback on the rehabilitation of derelict and ownerless mines, compensation of ex-mine employees, revitalisation of distressed mining towns, the advancement of economic opportunities for small-scale mining and mining health and safety.
The deputy minister of Human Settlements and Sanitation, Pamela Tshwete, and deputy minister of Police, Cassel Mathale, formed part of the community engagement. Their involvement saw that aspects relevant to their respective national government departments were addressed.
In his address on the objectives and purpose of the meeting, National Council of Provinces chief whip, Seiso Joel Mohai, highlighted the plight of the people of Matjhabeng, who have not benefitted from having mines in the area. He indicated not only how this can be addressed but also how government needs to establish a new regulatory framework for licencing for the new round of mining licences post the survey work of the Council for Geosciences.
“Most mining companies controlling these mineral resources are international or have international head offices, and their payments (profits, dividends, and interests) leave the province and the country broadly, meaning government needs to intervene and ensure that these monies stay within our borders,” said Mohai.
Matjhabeng’s executive mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipha, acknowledged the huge impact the closure of mines has had on the area. He says the closured have played a huge role in unemployment and lack of economic activity. According to him the municipality is in the process of organising an economic summit for later this year to look at new ways to revive economic activity and creating jobs for locals.
The prevalence of illegal mining was also tackled. The zama-zama trade as it is commonly known, was identified as a very problematic and dangerous activity for the broader community with many citing the dangers faced by community at the hands of these criminals.
Mathale urged residents to be active and occupy a central role in the fight against illegal mining.
“The perpetrators live among us and it is our responsibility to root them out and assist the police in this task.”
