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2010-07-23: City of Johannesburg's response regarding mine water drainage  
  
THE City's Environmental Management Department acknowledges the concern regarding the mine water drainage and possible decanting to the surface as well as the associated potential impacts to underground water resources and the environment in general. The City has responded to media enquiries on this issue in the past, e.g. on 12 March 2010.

Mining is a national competency and the city is fully aware of a number of initiatives driven from national and provincial level with the objective of reaching a cost-effective resolution of the mine water challenge based on international best practices. Where required the City will cooperate with initiatives implemented to achieve this.

Johannesburg as a city was founded on gold mining. The negative legacy of gold mining of the reef that has subsequently been discontinued leaving underground shafts filling with water is of great concern to the city.

The city would like to take a precautionary approach informed and confirmed by in-depth specialist studies without resorting to alarmist public statements.



Issued by:
Nthatisi Modingoane
Deputy Director: Communications
City of Johannesburg
Tel: (011) 407 7354
Fax: 403 3494
Cell: 082 467 9228
E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za