South Africa’s Minister Resources, Gwede Mantashe has raised concerns over illegal mining in communities in the country.
The concerns follows the discovery of 20 bodies believed to be those of illegal miners at the China Africa Precious Metals (CAPM) mine in Orkney in the North West. The badly burned and decomposed bodies were found in grain bags on the surface near the mine.
The Minister referred to the incident as criminal activity and declared the area, where the bodies were found a crime scene. He further said the incident is attack on the country’s economy, noting that the country lost R41 billion through illegal mining in 2018 alone.
Private security
Mantashe affirmed his department will meet with relevant stakeholders, including the office of the Minister for Police to provide back up to private security in areas where illegal activities are prevalent.
“That is a disaster but it is a disaster of criminal mining it is not a disaster of mining. This illegal mining is a criminal activity and it must be treated as such that’s why we appeal to the police that they must have specialised units to deal with illegal mining and stealing of precious metals until we do that we are unlikely to defeat this crime. We must actually form that unit, have specialised unit because Zama- Zamas are heavily armed they require specialise unit,” said Mantashe.
On his part CAPM Mine Manager, Isaac Tshabalala, suggests that although mine workers are there illegally it would be the right thing to assist them.
