Govt to close 300 mine shafts in battle against illegal mining - Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government intends to close over 350 mine shafts over the next three years as it looks to address the scourge of illegal mining.
There are approximately 6,100 derelict, unused or abandoned mines in South Africa, according to the government.
Ramaphosa delivered his keynote address at the 30th Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Monday.
In one instance last year, police arrested more than 100 suspects at the Marathon informal settlement in Ekurhuleni following complaints about criminal activities linked to illicit mining.
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, through Mintek, has been sealing ownerless and derelict mines.
Since 2019, the department has closed and sealed 251 derelict holes and shafts.
“The third objective we identified is to tackle illegal mining and the damage to the infrastructure. Since the establishment of the specialised police unit, working with our Defence Force, we have seen a number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of the perpetrators of this crime,” said Ramaphosa.
“Over the next three years, the department intends to close a further 352 shafts. Criminal activity, and copper cable theft, in particular, has had a serious impact on key rail freight corridors, including the supply of coal for export through Richards Bay.”
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