BDLive reports that illegal mining at abandoned and closed mines is “spiralling out of control”, with increasing numbers of injuries and deaths seen at mines across all commodities produced in SA.
So says Christo de Klerk, CEO of Mines Rescue Services (MRS). MRS is a nonprofit organisation that is funded by eight of SA’s largest mining companies, which proportionally contribute R42m a year to operating costs. It has 906 volunteers in four centres in major mining areas, as well as on large mines, to respond to underground incidents, rescuing trapped and injured miners as well as recovering bodies. While the numbers of incidents MRS responds to on formal mines is variable, there have been a sharply increased number of call-outs by the Department of Mineral Resources, with which MRS has a contract to assist with incidents on abandoned and shut mines. “It’s spiralling out of control. It’s getting worse and worse and something must be done,” said De Klerk.
- Read this report by Allan Seccombe in full at BDLive
- See too, Illegal mining out of control, says rescue organisation, at IOL News
- And also, The zama zama wars and the miraculous Mine Rescue Services, at Mineweb
- As well as, Onwettige mynwerkers kos land miljarde, at Netwerk24 (limited access)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page