Yesterday, I once again wrote to the Minister of Mineral Resources, Hon. Gwede Mantashe, requesting his support and intervention with regard to illegal mining with the use of explosives near highways, Transnet bulk fuel supply and SASOL gas pipelines travelling across the City.
I had previously written to the Minister, requested that he instruct his Department to provide us with specific measures, plans and interventions to avert this pending disaster by 3 April 2018.
This follows several other attempts, made in good faith, to engage former Minister Zwane on this issue as well, by writing to him on both 28 November 2017 and 12 February 2018.
In my letter dated 28 November 2018, I requested the former Minister’s assistance in terms of instructing his Department to provide us with measures and interventions to avert a pending disaster. Understanding the need for proper investigation into the matter, I requested this information by 28 February 2018, three months after my initial letter.
This deadline has come and gone without any communication form the former Minister, and it appears that Minister Mantashe is following in the footsteps of his predecessor by turning a blind eye to a potentially life threating situation.
Indeed, at an IDP public consultation meeting held over the past weekend within Region B, members of the community expressed their grave concern over illegal mining activity within their area. I committed to following up the matter and, once again, requesting Minister Mantashe’s direct intervention.
I have also taken the step of also sending this letter to Minister of COGTA, Hon. Zweli Mkhize, SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lt General Deliwe De Langer and Premier of Gauteng, Hon. David Makhura, in the hopes of both informing them and receiving information from their offices should my request to the Minister Mantashe continue go unanswered.
It is greatly disappointing that the City of Johannesburg has not received feedback from National Government on a matter which could ultimately lead to the loss of hundreds of lives.
Illegal mining and the use of explosives:
• Near pipelines carrying gas and fuel creates increased risk for neighbouring communities, puts services at risk and is an impending threat to the safety of city employees working along the pipelines and other services within the servitudes;
• Risks contamination of the City’s water supply;
• Has resulted in tremors, which risks the structural integrity of our roads, adjacent residential communities and businesses (Illegal blasting can create a spark that can ignite a fire capable of incinerating a large radius of up to 300m¬¬2);
• Has compromised the pillars that support the decommissioned mines, placing additional risk on the physical structure upon which the pipelines rests and the imminent collapse of the mine; and
• Has compromised both Transnet Pipelines and Sasol gas pipes.
Of significance is the Nasrec precinct where the pipelines intersects with SASOL gas lines. Investigations have revealed that if illegal mining activity continues within these old mining shafts, the entire FNB Nasrec precinct, including the iconic FNB stadium, could go down in ruins as a result of unstable earth directly underneath the area.
The consequences of the illegal use of explosives in decommissioned mines have disastrous consequences for the residents of Johannesburg as it can lead to serious injuries, loss of life and will put an enormous strain on our emergency services should a burst pipeline give to rise to a fire.
Last year, I have called for a collaborative crackdown operation with the Department of Mineral Resources, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Roads and Transport, JMPD, SAPS and Hawks to halt illegal mining activities.
I now do so again and remind my provincial and national counterparts that they took an oath to be faithful to the Republic of South Africa, of which the City of Johannesburg forms part.
If they truly wish to perform their function to the best of their ability, they will tend to this matter with the sense of urgency it deserves.
Cllr Herman Mashaba
Executive Mayor
City of Joburg
Media enquiries:
Tanya Heydenrych
Media Specialist
Private Office of the Executive Mayor
081 4171 871
