MQ_Apr_May_2016_lo_res_for

April - May 2016

MODERN QUARRYING

AROUND THE

INDUSTRY

EDITOR’S

COMMENT

espite efforts to formalise and profession-

alise our industry, borrow pits are still pop-

ping up all over the country, the end result

of which are polluted waterways and scarred envi-

ronments. The question must be asked, why is this

still allowed to happen?

Illegal mines are flourishing and in many cases

greed, corruption and personal gain are the root

cause behind this ugly practice. One fine example is

the sand mining operation inside the Letaba Ranch

Nature Reserve (LRNR). I came across a video ear-

lier this year posted by Peter Johnson, showing the

devastation in the reserve and since then, he has

dug deeper in an attempt to force the perpetrators

and the authorities to put a stop to this traversty.

The mining operation is on the farm Leeuwkop,

which is inside the LRNR – adjacent to and sharing

the open system with the Kruger National Park.

According to Johnson, the farm Leeukop is

owned by the Department of Rural Development

(DRDLR) but has been allocated to the Majeje

Community. This means that the Department

effectively holds the title of the land in trust for the

beneficiation of the community. “Further to this,

the same piece of land has been claimed by the

communities of Selwane and Makhuva; which is

a very important point because all three commu-

nities have a vested interest in the land and each

community’s rights are protected by different leg-

islation,” he says.

The mine is 100% illegal. It is operating without

a mining right, without approval from the Majeje

community, and without a legal lease agreement.

There is no rehabilitation plan, no approval from

the DRDLR (the landowner), nor the Land Claims

Commissioner (the land is claimed by multiple

communities), and without various commercial

plans required for such an operation.

The Limpopo Economic Development

Environment and Tourism (LEDET) manages LRNR

and has full responsibility for its ecological and

operational integrity.

“LEDET is aware of the illegality of the mine but

is not prepared to do anything about it,” Johnson

says.“Allegedly, senior LEDET officials have an inter-

est in the mine. Surely this cannot be the case?” he

argues; adding that apparently LEDET’s solution is

to fence out the mine.

“I have seen letters sent by community leaders

of Selwane and Makhuva in July 2014, pleading

with LEDET to investigate the mining illegalities.

I have seen further letters sent by the leaders of

five communities in 2015 reporting the illegal dev-

astation of their land, and claims that the mining

is infringing on tribal burial areas. Yet again, no

response from LEDET.”

Johnson says the DRDLR is aware of the min-

ing operation and that he has proof that the

Department is not aware of any lease agreements.

“I am told from various sources that Sanparks

(specifically Kruger management) have inspected

the mining operation, understand the illegality of

the mine, but for political reasons have chosen to

ignore it.”

has a list of the entities and people directly

or indirectly involved with the mine – one of whom

is currently under investigation for several irregu-

larities; another fired by the Majeje Commuity chief

for fraud and mismanagement – and will follow up

with these in the next issue.

What is clearly evident here, is that the ecosys-

tem is being exploited despite damning evidence.

Another case is the ongoing illegal dune strip-

ping on the Wild Coast. Here rural ‘sand shovellers’

earn a megre existence without skills develop-

ment, employment benefits, medical and legal

protection or job security.

The business of illegal mining, while lucrative

for those selling sand, is unsustainable and unfor-

tunately will continue as long as the non-renew-

able resources last and government fails to act.

Borrow pits run by municipalities, road build-

ing operations and other organisations are not

much better and are held to far less vigorous

requirements than those of industry operations,

which are invested in a sustainable future, through

accountability, transparency and credibillity.

Corruption is worse than prostitution. The lat-

ter might endanger the morals of an individual,

the former invariably endangers the morals of the

entire country.

Illegal mining

– an industry dilemma

‘Whenever you see a man who gives someone else’s corruption, someone else’s prejudice as a

reason for not taking action himself, you see a cog in the machine that governs us’

– US author, John Jay Chapman (1962-1933).