Mining for answers in the wreckage of education

The heel of his shiny black shoe sank into the mud close to a pit dug by illegal miners in oSizweni.

The recent rains left many puddles of inky black clay and mud scattered among the piles of bricks and half-dug holes.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Mineral Resources, Sahlulele Luzipo and other committee members visited the illegal mining operations in oSizweni on Monday, which has made headlines in the past years for the danger it poses to Mzamo High School which is now surrounded by the mine. As they traversed the treacherous outcrops and dug out pits, their suit and tie attire was in sharp contrast to the blackened rags of the miners.

The visit was part of a campaign launched by the Department of Mineral Resources in order for the committee to assess illegal mines in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape area.

Investigations will be conducted into issues of benefaction as well as studies into local mining companies, while meetings will be held with members of the community to gain insight into the impact illegal mining has on the surrounding area.

The school stands balanced precariously over tunnels dug by miners. The threat the mine poses to the pupils is very real. However, the school is also shrouded in controversy.

In 2010 the Department of Mineral Resources began building a new school built close to the old building. This was in order to move the pupils away from danger and the seemingly imminent collapse of the aged school buildings.

Construction commenced and soon thereafter, the R6.2-million budget was depleted and the project came to a grinding halt. To date, no further progress has been made. In 2013, the Department of Education took over after a visit by the KZN MEC for Education who then subsequently appointed a new service provider after a tender process.

This process was however found to be inconsistent. The new contractor received a court order mere days after taking up tools. The original contractor had appealed to the courts, claiming the department still owed them money.

Today the new buildings stand incomplete. Vandalised, broken down and deteriorating while the mine creeps ever closer to the fence line of the school playground.

The chief whip of the committee, Mandla Mandela, grandson to the late Nelson Mandela, disputes that mining in the area has caused any of these issues.

“According to their [Department of Education] own reports, they would still be able to salvage the school,” he said. “There are two issues here that need to be separated. One is that of the illegal mining, while the other is that of vandalism.”

“They could have used this money to renovate the original school,” he concluded.

Mr Luzipo confirmed there was indeed still a threat to the school.

“Quite clearly the issue of illegal mining continues to be a problem,’ he said. “We can’t say it’s worse, but currently we need to look at the legal processes that were undertaken. It is clear the relocation of the school has nothing to do with delays and non-performance and so forth. It has more to do with the legal obligations and the contractual disputes that exist. In our view, we have to deal with those issues first.”

Rumours of the mine being legalised and turned into a formal mining operation by local companies have also surfaced. According to Mr Luzipo, a way needed to be found to deal with issues of safety and skills first.

“We will look at the commitments that we made first. So if the school is relocates, and the houses are relocated, would it solve the problem?” he asked. “Currently there is no guarantee that if we take these people to an alternative site others won’t come and continue the same thing.”

When questioned why it has taken the department almost 40 years to act, Mr Luzipo confirmed it was the first time the portfolio committee had visited the mine.

“Well, it’s a question that can’t fall on my shoulders,” he said. “We are coming here as a portfolio committee and I am told for the first time…we will stick to what we are supposed to be doing.”

After visiting several more mines, the committee will submit a report to the department regarding the operation and what can be done to solve problems in the area. Thereafter, a decision will be made regarding the fate of the school and the mine.