Illegal mining threatening Barberton Mines
"If illegal mining continues we stand a real chance of closing Barberton Mine. Our loss in revenue at Sheba Mine is R1,2 million per day,"explains Jooste.
More 600 illegal miners were arrested from 121 reported cases around Barberton Mine.
“However we are not happy about the justice system of the country, because most are either released on bail or fine sentences and get back to the streets and back to committing crime again,” said Mr Martine Jooste, a security operational coordinator of the mine during a stakeholders’ Crime Indaba held in Barberton last Friday.
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He mentioned that the mine’s location, which is near 120 adits, made it more vulnerable to illegal immigrants who always find their way into the mines using the adits.
Jooste added that it is also easier for illegal miners to find blasting equipment, including explosives, ventilators or ripcord, from untrustworthy mine workers and road contractors.
“Unfortunately explosives are easily available not only from mines but also from those working on roadworks,” he said.
During the meeting it was recommended that the mines should improve security measures including increasing personnel to prevent easy access of illegal miners. They also added that security personnel must be rotated at least every three months because some end up colluding with the illegal miners.
A member of the City of Mbombela’s mayoral committee representing the MEC of community safety security and liason, Mr Majaheni Nyalunga, called on stakeholders and community members to work together in fighting crime in Barberton. “Working together with the police and other stakeholders, we can be a full-force unit to end crime in our area,” he concludes.
