Afro Voice reports that, as the government stepped up efforts to regulate illegal mining by granting licences to over 4 000 zama zamas in the Northern Cape, some stakeholders have warned that criminal syndicates are likely to fight back.
The National Union of Mineworkers’ Cornelius Manhe was wary about the Department of Mineral Resources move. He said it would not stem the violence and corruption that is part and parcel of illegal mining in the country.
“We think the government could have handled the matter differently because it does not mean the havoc in the industry will end. Our view is the mining houses should absorb the workers instead of the government giving them permits. This will not solve anything or end their infighting,” he said.
Manhe said the union would be engaging on a way forward and talk with the department, which is finalising the Mining Charter.
Manhe’s comment came against the background of an underground industry where gang kingpins, sellers and buyers of illegal minerals allegedly work in cahoots with police, private security guards and state prosecutors in a highly sophisticated racket.
This newspaper recently uncovered a syndicate extracting precious metals from disused mines and tailings dams and dumps at Harmony Gold’s Eland, St Helena and Masimong shaft 4 mines in the province, which although closed, abounds with zama zamas, including some illegal immigrants from Lesotho and Mozambique, who enter the shafts in shifts, spending up to a month underground.
A web of networks, reportedly including private security officials and crooked police officials and prosecutors were said to be involved in aiding and abetting the criminal activities.
The Minister of Mineral Resources, Gwede Mantashe, recently said the department would deal with the problem of illegal mining by “formalising ‘artisanal mining’ and ‘junior mining’ to regulate them”.
But spokesperson for Mantashe Nathi Shabangu said: “The minister says we should regulate and legalise illegal miners to create job opportunities. We view this as an opportunity in our hands to transform the industry. And the department should have an illegal mining unit.”
The leader of the Northern Cape zama zama group, Lucky Seekoei, also saw the granting of 500ha by DMR and mining giants Ekapa and Petra Diamonds, to the group’s registered cooperatives as a positive move. “Families will, from now, start having a stable income and not have to hide while working. We can now bank our money and pay tax. We are going to be regulated by the Diamond Board,” he said.
“The doors of wealth have been opened. We are tired of running away from the police and mine security.”
Leeto Molise, a zama zama from Benoni, did not support the move to legalise because it means having to pay taxes as zama zamas can make up to R40 000 a week working in groups of four. “I am not sure if I would want to be legalised out of fear of being robbed.
“Now it means I will be working for another person and getting paid monthly, which I am not used to.”
But Thuso* (not his real name) said he would like a mining licence as their working conditions were dangerous even though they do make money.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union president, Joseph Mathunjwa, said: “The issuing of permits should not mean the mining houses are off the hook with rehabilitating the mines, this shouldn’t be a substitute for the work they did not finish,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources Godfrey Oliphant was delighted at the outcome. “Here we have proof we are bringing the matter to an end in a decent way. It’s a benchmark we can apply around the country.”
Black First, Land First leader Andile Mngxitama said what happened in the Northern Cape was a turning point in the mining sector and part of radical economic transformation.
“We want all the zama zamas to be recognised and given permits,” he said.
The original of this report by Tiisetso Manoko, Dikeledi Molobela and Bonolo Selebano appeared on page 1 of Afro Voice of 2 May 2018
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