The Start reports that the deaths of the Langlaagte illegal miners last week might have been avoided if rehabilitation work on the exposed underground tunnels promised by Central Rand Gold (CRG) in 2009 had gone ahead.  

Eric Itzkin of the Department of Community Development said CRG hadn’t honoured its commitments in terms of a signed memorandum of understanding between Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and CRG, dated 26 June 2009.  Instead, it had left the historic tunnels on its Langlaagte mine exposed.  CRG chief executive Lola Trollip declined to comment, saying only that it had submitted its intentions to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR).  A DMR spokesperson said they were communicating with the landowner and the SAPS to find the best way to secure the site.  The department has started sealing and securing the pits after the incidents last week.

• Read this report by Samantha Hartshorne in full at Business Report

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