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Minerals Council calls for proper strategy to stop illegal mining

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MineralsCouncilSABL Premium reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) has urged the government to sign off on a dedicated illegal mining strategy as precious metal theft and smuggling continues to plague the local industry.

Addressing a portfolio committee on mineral & petroleum resources on Tuesday, MCSA CEO Mzila Mthenjane flagged illegal mining as a persistent challenge for SA’s mining industry. “The Stilfontein incident helped us understand and dig deeper in terms of the drivers behind illegal mining and how we can approach artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). It’s important that the appropriate legislative environment be provided to enable ASM to succeed and to deal effectively with illegal mining,” Mthenjane argued. Calls for a clearer and more comprehensive legal framework on illegal mining have heightened since January after the deaths of 72 illegal miners at an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein. Since December, police and the military have ramped up the crackdown on illegal mining through their joint operation “Vala Umgodi” (“close the hole”), which focuses on blocking essential supplies from being sent down abandoned mines. Policymakers have joined in by adding clauses aimed at addressing illegal mining in the recently gazetted Mineral Resource Development Bill. Mining minister Gwede Mantashe said the proposed licensing regime for ASM operations would ensure compliance with environmental, safety and labour regulations as well as reduce the risk of illegal mining activities. However, the bill hit the wrong tone with role players, with the MCSA saying in May that the draft legislation did not reflect its input.

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacob Webster at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)


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