Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, has denounced the scourge of illegal mining across South Africa, which he said is dominated by foreign nationals.

IOL reported on Tuesday that as 494 illegal miners who were arrested after resurfacing in Mpumalanga appeared before the Barberton Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga, an additional 24 also surfaced at the Sheba Mine. 

The suspects, who appeared in groups of 50 in the dock, face charges of trespassing, possession of gold-bearing materials, and the contravention of the Immigration Act.

The arrests stem as a result of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) national Operation Vala Umgodi, which tackles the scourge of illegal mining within the borders of South Africa. 

The suspects arrested in Mpumalanga are foreign nationals from eSwatini and Mozambique, and include minors.

On Wednesday, Mantashe clarified that his department has started the process of issuing licences to artisanal and small-scale miners. However, the minister pointed out that these are not illegal miners colloquially referred to as zama-zamas.

“We have started the programme of artisanal and small-scale miners. We have issued the first 21 licences and we are going to be systematic about it. This is not formalising illegal mining. It’s actually giving opportunity to entrepreneurs who want to enter into mining, and we are going to continue doing that.

The minister said it would be “a fatal mistake” to counterpose artisanal mining to illegal mining.

“If you look into illegal mining, it is not dominated by South African citizens. It is mainly dominated by citizens from neighbouring countries; therefore it means it’s an issue of external forces attacking South Africa’s economy. That should be dealt with separately from artisanal mining,” said Mantashe, who is also chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC).

“I am not going to give artisanal mining licences to Mozambicans, Lesotho citizens or Zimbabweans who dominate this space. I am going to give those licences to South Africans who want to be entrepreneurs in mining.”

Earlier this year, Mantashe called for a stronger and more focused approach to combat illegal mining, emphasising its harmful impact on the economy and its criminal nature. 

During a visit to the Stilfontein mine in North West this week, Mantashe joined a delegation of ministers, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, to monitor an operation to bring illegal miners to the surface.

Mantashe said the criminal aspect of illegal mining is the responsibility of the police. 

“Because there is illegal mining, this is a crime scene. Once a decision is taken to start a rescue operation, I must liaise with the mine rescue service, I must talk to the Mineral Council and talk the owner of the operation.”

Mantashe, who has consistently voiced concerns about illegal mining, made it clear that the fight against this activity must be stepped up. 

“The reality of the matter is that I have not changed my view that illegal mining is a criminal activity. What will never shift to me is the way we deal with illegal mining. It should be intensifying the fight against illegal mining,” Mantashe said at the time.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News  

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