Modern Quarrying

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January - February 2016 MODERN QUARRYING 33
SPOTLIGHT ON
BRICKMAKING
REGULAR UPDATE
ASPASA
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
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
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.
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.