Ekurhuleni strengthens relations with mining sector
The forum will be a platform that will allow engagement with the municipality and reinforce compliance in the mining fraternity.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), which has a rich gold mining history, held its first Ekurhuleni Mining Round Table recently.
EMM spokesperson, Mr Themba Gadebe, said the meeting was a bid to strengthen the city’s stakeholder relations in the mining fraternity.
Deliberations on the revitalisation of the mining forum was the focus of the day, which was highlighted by the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for City Planning and Economic Development, Clr Thumbu Mahlangu.
“The absence of engagement results to challenges in the mining fraternity is piling up, because they are not communicated as and when they occur. The forum will ensure that the municipality and its stakeholders can work together to iron out challenges and pave a way forward towards the development and sustainability of the sector,” said Clr Mahlangu.
The forum, that will sit on a quarterly basis, will consist of representatives from the Departments of Mineral Resources, Trade and Industry and the SAPS. Mr Gadebe said representatives from various organisations will be announced at the first sitting of the Ekurhuleni Mining Forum.
Mr Lawrance Zwane, a representative from Apolo Bricks, said the forum will be a platform that will allow engagement with the municipality and reinforce compliance in the mining fraternity.
“Coming from a company that depends on the mining of clay to make bricks, we are confronted by many challenges of safety and other factors, such as illegal mining. The establishment of this forum will supervise what we do and ensure that other companies comply with the Mineral Petroleum Resource Development Act (MPRDA),” said Mr Zwane.
