The Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) has asked residents to help authorities to identify illegal quarrying operations.
According to Aspasa, illegal quarrying can ruin the environment, it exploits workers who are paid menial wages for potentially dangerous work and it ultimately goes against the laws and undermines the work of legal quarrying companies which comply with the law.
Read: Report illegal dumping
The association asks people to be on the lookout for quarries which do not seem to be run well or which are polluting the environment as these may be illegal.
Aspasa director Nico Pienaar said, “A saving of a couple of rand per load of material is not worth the risk to our people and surroundings. We, therefore, call on individuals to contact Aspasa, the Department of Mineral Resources, the police and/or municipalities to report potentially illegal operators and help snuff out harmful and illegal quarrying practises.”
Pienaar added that no one was allowed to excavate or remove sand, rocks, or soil without the necessary permissions and permits. He said this included ‘borrow pits,’ which are ditches or pits resulting from the excavation of materials to be used in embankments by construction companies, and sand from rivers and beaches.
Read: Illegal dumping ruins spruit in Morningside
“Even if a contractor wants to construct a small road or structure, they may not, under any circumstances, remove natural sand and stones without following the required processes. Report them and prevent our surrounds being ruined for the sake of a few individuals’ gain,” he concluded.
Details: To report illegal quarries, please contact the police or Aspasa at office@aspasa.co.za or 011 791 3327.
Read: Illegal dumping hits George Lea
