Sand mine ordered to close
Numerous meetings - often tense - were held between Hibiscus Coast municipal and provincial officials, the ANC, Fairview community leaders and representatives from the mining company.
AN Umzumbe sand mine has apparently been ‘bullied out of business’ and now the local building industry could be in trouble.
Hundreds of mine workers are also out of work.
The mine – which had been operating for 15 years and supplied vast amounts of sand to the entire South Coast construction industry – was suddenly ordered to close ‘immediately’ by the Department of Mineral Resources because of alleged ‘unsafe mining practices’.
The operators are reluctant to be named for fear of a violent backlash from the Fairview community and their leaders who suddenly rose up against the mine and blocked the provincial road in December in protest.
They claimed the mine’s trucks travelled at high speed and created a ‘health hazard’ by creating dust and noise pollution.
They also threatened to close the N2 and R102 – so no tourists could reach Margate – if their demands for the mine to close were not met.
In an attempt to solve the situation, the mining company allocated a truck and water tanker to damp down the road on a regular basis, but the outcry continued.
Numerous meetings – often tense – were held between Hibiscus Coast municipal and provincial officials, the ANC, Fairview community leaders and representatives from the mining company.
At one such meeting, employees of the sand mine company were chased away and the managers were told to ‘sit down and be quiet’.
Then the official ‘order to close’ notice was received from the Department of Mineral Resources.
The mine owners argued that over the 15 years it had been in operation no casualties had ever taken place.
They were also puzzled why this department had taken an interest as roads should fall under the National Roads Department.
Hibiscus Coast Municipality spokesman Simon April said the municipality had met with relevant role players with a view to resolving the impasse.
“Two meetings have already been held with the Department of Transport to discuss the possibility of tarring that road,” he said.
There were also allegations that the ward councillor had fired up the Fairview community to protest, but Mr April said investigations proved that this was not true. In fact, the councillor had been called upon to calm the community down.
He said the community also argued that it was not consulted when the licence for the mine was first issued 15 years ago.
Phuti Mabelebele, media liaison officer for the Department of Mineral Resources, acknowledged the Herald’s inquiry, but has not issued a media statement to date.
