Mining expert and former senior Director at the Department of Minerals and Energy, Sunday Mabaso says there are disagreements between the department and the mining house responsible for an unrehabilitated mining hole left in Riverlea south of Johannesburg.
The area has been plagued by an increase in criminal activity due to illegal miners operating in the area which led to protests by residents on Monday.
This comes after five Zama Zamas were killed at the weekend in an alleged turf war.
Mabaso says the rehabilitation of old mine shafts forms part of mining licenses granted to mining houses.
“In terms of the requirements for mine closure when a mine is granted a mining right, they are supposed to ensure that when it comes to an end or they’ve exhausted the minerals, then they close the pit. So, with the Riverlea case, there were issues between the mining house and the department. The department has issued directives for the mine to close however there’ve been court cases going between the department and the mining house, hence it remained unclosed.”
Army must be deployed
Meanwhile, Riverlea’s ANC councillor, Msimelelo Lobi has called for the army to be deployed in the area south of Johannesburg, where tensions are mounting, following protests amid the killing of five illegal miners in the area.
He says the situation at the nearby Zamimpilo informal settlement is terrible. Police say they have arrested 15 people.
Lobi says Zamimpilo is now becoming a no-go area.
“It’s very terrible, as a ward 68- councillor elected I’ve went through Zamimpilo, residents can feel when those illegal miners are mining- their shacks have holes. Zamimpilo, is becoming a no-go area highly dangerous in South Africa, within the ward. I think what we just need is the army to rescue us from this.”
VIDEO | Riverlea Focus | On the trail of illegal miners in an open field with holes leading underground:
