Gold mining suspended at Kagiso after weeks of protests
GOLD mining operations in Kagiso on the West Rand have been temporarily suspended by the Department of Mineral Resources following weeks of violent protests in the area.
Residents were complaining of their houses cracking from blasting and drilling, and that dust from mining activities was compromising their health.
Mintails, the mine involved, said on Monday that the sus- pension was temporary and there would be no immediate job losses for the 800 people employed there.
But subcontractors who were not able to work would not be paid, the company said.
The riots saw trucks and taxis being refused entry for almost two weeks, including to the nearby industrial area of Chamdor.
Following the protests – in which mining, private and council property were damaged by protesters – Mogale City called in the Department of Mineral Resources to conduct an investigation.
The preliminary investigation found “flaws in the mining company’s business practices”. As a result Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu suspended certain of Mintails’ operations.
The Mogale municipality has applauded the move.
Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has also welcomed the suspension.
The Gauteng government had already issued an application at the Johannesburg High Court, seeking an urgent interim interdict restraining Mintails from conducting any blasting activities in and around Kagiso.
In a statement, Mokonyane said: “As the Gauteng provincial government, we would like to assure the residents of Kagiso that, while appreciating the job-creation initiatives undertaken by mining companies, we will... not allow commercial interests to override the entrenched constitutional rights of local communities to human dignity and a clean environment.”
Mintails, which has been mining gold for 14 months, has claimed that damage to houses was the result of a severe hailstorm in November.
Chief financial officer Eddie Milne said the company would repair the damage if it was directly related to mining operations.
He said the mine would continue to process available stockpiled material, as well as tailings, as these operations did not fall within the suspension notification. Mintails says:
Of the 800 workers employed by the company, 20 percent come from the Kagiso area.
Despite the mine posting a bottom-line loss for the year to June 30, 2013 of R151.9 million, Mintails invested R1.5m in the community during the financial year.
One of the projects undertaken is a food garden project in Kagiso.
A safe play area was established for the young children of the Tudor community.
An environmental management forum has been established to allow communities and other interested parties affected by mining operations to provide feedback. The community claims:
Its houses are cracking up from the blasting.
Blasting and drilling take place day and night.
There is constant driving up and down by trucks.
The dust is affecting people’s health.
Residents were not consulted on the mining. An independent team of technical experts found:
There were no warning signs around the pit area to prevent unauthorised access.
Mining operations are taking place close to a major power line 100m from the high wall of the eastern side of the pit.
There was a failure to implement the approved social and labour plans, with emphasis on human resource development and local economic development.
The environmental impacts of opencast mining close to a residential area were not considered.