The National Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMR) has confirmed that its officials witnessed the abuse towards a Toti Conservancy member.
Laura Taylor, who has been instrumental in bringing the illegal miners to task, was verbally abused, intimidated with a panga and threatened with rape when she joined a follow-up investigation into illegal sand mining operations on the Illovo River on Monday, 12 August.
“The use of abusive language and threats were made in the presence of the DMR and SAPS officials,” said the department.
“There were illegal mining activities which were undertaken without an environmental authorisation and mining permit or mining right (when DMR officials visited the Illovo River on Monday, 12 August). Nicole Mchunu received a non-compliance notice (NCN).”
READ ALSO: Toti Conservancy member abused, threatened by illegal miners
The DMR also confirmed there were different individuals undertaking mining activities on different parts of the Illovo River when officials visited the area on Tuesday, 9 July. “Notices were issued to Mr Gumede and YC Naidoo Group.”
Asked what is the procedure following the issuing of an NCN, it said: “The procedure involves monitoring adherence to instruction given and check if an objection has been made by the perpetrator. In case of non-adherence to instruction, criminal measures are pursued. The department will take further steps when it is determined that they have failed to adhere to the determined steps.”
When the SUN queried why only one company that was issued an NCN on 9 July was visited on 12 August in the follow-up, and not the second one, the DMR said: “The second site could not be attended due to limited time and inadequate resources to deal with the situation on the said site.”
Asked if either of the two companies that were issued with NCNs during the 12 July raid have valid mining permits to mine sand from the Illovo River, the DMR said it is in the process of verifying the purported renewed mining permit and that there are currently companies with a valid permit to mine sand from the Illovo River.
READ ALSO: Illegal mining continues despite department’s order to shut down operations
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