Mineral Resources and Energy Committee set to embark on oversight visits to illegal mining hotspots in North West and Gauteng
The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy will from tomorrow, 24 August 2023, embark on a four-day oversight visit to illegal mining hotspots in North West and Gauteng at the old Scot mine in Klerksdorp; Batlhako, and Ruighoek mines in Witrantjies Village outside Rustenburg, as well as Riverlea in Gauteng.
The committee is conducting these oversight visits to follow up on the recommendations of the joint oversight visit on illegal mining report, which was adopted by the National Assembly in November 2022. Some of the recommendations call upon the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and demolish disused shafts at the old Scot mine in Klerksdorp, and with the North West DMRE regional office to collaborate with the South African Police Service in the province to fight illegal mining.
First thing tomorrow, the committee will be briefed on the progress report in relation to the recommendations and commitments made during the previous joint oversight visit by the portfolio committees of Mineral Resources and Energy, Home Affairs and Police. It will then conduct an inspection in loco at the old Scot mine, where the DMRE North West regional office undertook to demolish and rehabilitate disused mine shafts by January 2023. On Friday, the committee will visit the Witrantjies Village where illegal mining of chrome is taking place at an industrial scale.
On Saturday, 26 August 2023, the committee will be in Gauteng to engage with the DMRE, SAPS, and communities affected by illegal mining in Riverlea. This comes in the wake of the recent shootouts between rival groups of illegal miners and subsequent protests by community members. The committee will then have an opportunity to follow up on the DMRE’s commitment to close all derelict open mine shafts and mine holes in Riverlea by the end of September 2023. It will also embark on a walkabout at various illegal mining sites in Riverlea.
On Sunday, the committee will be briefed by government departments on progress regarding various issues related to illegal mining, including an update on illegal mining in the whole of South Africa, a progress report on addressing the illegal mining value chain, an update on engagements with the Southern African Development Community, as well as progress on implementation of the NA’s recommendation as listed in the joint oversight visit on illegal mining report. Departments that are expected to brief the committee are DMRE, the Department of Police, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Justice and Correctional Services, and the National Treasury.
Media enquiries:
Justice Molafo
Tel: 021 403 8444
Cell: 081 424 7481
E-mail: jmolafo@parliament.gov.za
