WHY NOT CATCH BIG fISH?

PIGG’S PEAK – Illegal miners, who are mainly residents of KaNdeva and Bulembu, are wondering why those mining the Green Chert in bulk were not being arrested.

They accused the Malolotja Nature Reserve of allowing trucks to enter the nature reserve while others were being arrested or shot. In the past 24 months, this publication has reported on at least five people who had been shot. Of these, two were reported to have died.

*Jack, who confessed that he normally mined the rock, said his colleagues were now upset that they were not being allowed to mine yet the nature reserve was allowing large trucks to ferry the rock out.

Dagga

He said he usually mined the rock with other youths, who previously cultivated dagga but discovered that this was more lucrative as they made money quicker. He said they were usually paid about E20 per kilogramme though when exported, the low-grade gemstones could fetch thousands of Emalangeni.

Jack further narrated that sometimes they spent about three days at the site because the rock had to be broken manually using pick axes and fire.

He said since the rock was part of a large mountain range, a fire was used at one section to cause the mountain to crack. “Once it cracks, we then break it into smaller pieces which are easier to carry,” he said.

Truck

Meanwhile, Hlobisile Sikhosana, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC), stated that she was not aware of a truck that had been impounded the premises of Malolotja Nature Reserve.

“We are only responsible for law enforcement within our jurisdiction,” said Sikhosana.

Robert Biyela, who is the Mining Commissioner, was also called on his cellphone but there was no response.