DA bemoans rejection of its motion to tackle illegal mining

The issue of illegal mining took a brief centre stage at the Ekurhuleni council meeting last week when the DA presented its motion aimed at addressing the illegal mining plaguing the city.

The motion was, however, rejected by the speaker, resulting in the DA slamming the EFF/ANC-led coalition government for the rejection of the motion.
According to the DA leader in the city, Tania Campbell, the DA presented the motion in council to apply political pressure on the government to take bold and decisive steps in addressing the illegal mining activities in Ekurhuleni.
She explained that illegal mining results in the loss of lives in communities, damage to infrastructure and damage to the economy.

“Our motion aimed to compel the city to initiate the establishment of a multi-disciplinary task team with all spheres of government to eradicate illegal mining and empower the EMPD visible policing patrols in communities where illegal mining is prevalent,” said Campbell.

“Residents in affected communities are calling for action against zama zamas as they continue to conduct illegal mining activities seemingly unabated and unchallenged,” said Tania.
Tania pointed out that the DA has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office requesting action, and they will not stop until this matter is given the urgency it deserves.

“We believe this is a national crisis that needs to be addressed and tackled by all three spheres of government. It is appalling that instead of debating and adopting this crucial motion in council, the ANC and EFF cronies disrupted the house, and placed the responsibility of illegal mining at a national level before the speaker rejected the motion.

“It is time to put the residents first! We cannot play political games while people lose their lives, and our infrastructure is destroyed.”
The Boksburg Advertiser reached out to the mayoral office for comment, but no response has been received yet.

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in Ekurhuleni said it supports the motion to establish a multi-disciplinary task team and to engage the national government to help the city eradicate illegal mining in the region.
Speaking during council meeting, ACDP’s councilor Linda Yates described the difficulties faced by residents living in areas controlled by zama zamas.

“The recent toxic gas leakage in Angelo, Boksburg, is a good example of why this needs to happen. When the ACDP visited the area the day after the tragic incident which killed 17 people, we heard how families are living in fear,” said Yates.

“Residents are afraid to walk in certain areas and there are even reports that SAPS officers are taking bribes from the zama zamas, who are more heavily armed than they are.

“The situation needs very strong measures. We believe residents need protection from SAPS and the SANDF so that they will feel safe enough to report zama zama activities to law enforcement authorities. They also need to be empowered to organise themselves to do so.”

The ACDP also urged the Department of Home Affairs to close the gaps in SA’s porous borders, since many arrested zama zamas are undocumented foreign nationals.

Also Read: WATCH: Police accused of working with illegal miners