Private owned land is apparently threatened by illegal mining in and around eMalahleni.
A farm owner contacted WITBANK NEWS to report illegal mining taking place on his farm on the Ogies Road.
“As I approached the men asking them what they are doing on my ground, they answered me that they are mining for the council,” the owner said.
Wanting to see the needed documentation, the ‘miners’ had excuses and started acting arrogant towards the media.
“You do not need to see any certificates or documentation, because we have the right to mine here,” was one of the statements given to the reporter.
Illegal mining is an ongoing problem around several places in South Africa.
There are various risks that one takes on when involved in illegal mining.
According to the Minerals Council of South Africa, the growth in illegal mining could be attributed to the combination of a difficult socio-economic climate and limited resources at the disposal of law enforcement agencies such as police, immigration, border controls and prosecuting authorities.
Many thousands of people are currently estimated to be involved in illegal mining, both directly and indirectly.
Miners enter mostly abandoned shafts, traveling as far as four kilometer underground where they may live for several days at a time, risking their lives and the lives of others.
Not only is this having a negative financial impact on the country but also a negative social impact.
“Illegal miners present a major risk to themselves and to the health and safety of the employees of legal mining operations, often threatening them and their families to assist in the crime. Many illegal miners have lost their lives in accidents, often fatally injured in falls of ground or killed in factional rivalry,” said the Minister of Mineral Resources, Mr Gwede Mantashe.
To report any illegal mining activities, residents can contact the Department of Mineral Recourses.
The illegal mining market is a well managed five-tier system:
• 1st Tier – The underground workers, mostly illegal immigrants, do the physical mining. Many have worked in the mines previously. They use chemical substances to primitively refine the product.
• 2nd Tier – The buyers on the surface around the mines also organizes the first-tier illegal miners and supports them with food, protection and equipment.
• 3rd Tier – The regional bulk buyers, in most cases, have permits issued in terms of the Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005 to trade in precious metals.
• 4th Tier – The national and sometimes international distributors use front companies or legitimate exporters.
• 5th Tier – The top international receivers and distributors usually work through international refineries and intermediary companies.
