Modern Quarrying January-February 2016

SPOTLIGHT ON BRICKMAKING REGULAR UPDATE ASPASA

South African Revenue Services (SARS) to overturn a decision evoking the rights of quarry operations in claiming rebates. It is also working with SARS and Treasury on the effects of royalties levied on sand and aggregates, which is the only coun- try worldwide requiring royalties on con- struction materials. Aspasa is active on various govern- ment liaison committees in terms of chal- lenges affecting industry stakeholders, employees and surrounding communi- ties. “However, while it is our role to unite the industry, it is also our responsibility to guard against collusion and discourage competitive behaviour,” he adds. To this end, it holds regular work- shops to educate its members in issues ranging from legal compliance, health and safety, to crushing, road transport and a host of other topics, which include various manuals in terms of best practices and compliance issues.“Our aim is to train our members to be honest and upstand- ing operators,” Pienaar confirms. www.aspasa.co.za

environmentally these quarries are free to do as they please outside the realms of legislation. “Our quarries are better managed than ever before, thanks to the imple- mentation of world-class standards and the close cooperation of quarry oper- ators within the regional and national structures of Aspasa,” he says, adding that audited standards are mandatory for members. Two separate management systems for health and safety and a system for environmental management are used. “Member companies are required to comply with the Association’s strict About Face environmental standards which are in line with global standards and designed to ensure that the local indus- try is sustainably managed with minimal impact on the environment and its peo- ple. Compliance is also measured annu- ally in an audit to test quality, health and safety and road traffic compliance.” While these are considered ‘softer’ issues, Aspasa is a tough campaigner for the rights of its members. Included among these is its recent work with the

expensive regulations in terms of min- eral rights, health, safety and the envi- ronment, including royalties on materials mined. The end result is that our quarries are under pressure to survive and must either hike prices to cover overheads and unfair competition from illegal operators, or they must cut corners and risk losing their businesses. “We want the authorities to take a closer look at our industry and realise that it needs to be governed in a way that acknowledges the importance of sand and stone in the development of infrastructure.” Aspasa has been vocal about the need to curb illegal mining and is continuing to work closely with the Department of Mineral Resources to ensure quarries are not subjected to the same requirements as large-scale mines and underground operations. “Rampant illegal quarrying effectively exempts unscrupulous opera- tions from obtaining mining permits and excludes them from paying both tax and royalties and complying with legislation,” Pienaar says. “It also offers no protec- tion to workers in these operations, and

Report by Dale Kelly

The industry faces severe threats from illegal quarry operations undercutting prices, as well as legal borrow pits set up by municipalities and contractors as a temporary source of sand and stone.

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MODERN QUARRYING

January - February 2016