Briefing TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE on the MEASURES IMPLEMENTED TO COMBAT ILLEGAL MINING. 9 November 2016

Presentation outline Background. Measures to combat illicit mining, Promotion of legitimate mining. Rehabilitation of mines and sealing of shafts and holes. Policing and law enforcement. 3. Challenges. 4. Way forward.

BACKGROUND The Department continues to be greatly concerned with the illegal mining activities and more particularly with the recent reports of the death of three illegal miners at the George Harrison Heritage Site, in Langlaagte. The recent incident has again put the spotlight on the challenges of illicit mining activities, not only in Gauteng but also in other provinces like Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The recent oversight visit by the Portfolio Committee to the Free State also brought sharper focus on the challenges and dangers on illicit mining. Illegal chrome, coal and sand mining has also become more prominent mainly in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga province.

Dangerous underground environment ILLEGAL GOLD MINING IN GAUTENG Dangerous underground environment

ILLEGAL CHROME MINING IN LIMPOPO

ILLEGAL CHROME MINING IN LIMPOPO

ILLEGAL SAND MINING Prevalent in Eastern Cape (coastline), KZN affecting rivers and in Limpopo. More than 30 cases reported to DMR, and being investigated by enforcement and compliance section of DMR.

ILLEGAL SAND MINING

MEASURES TO COMBAT ILLEGAL MINING The Department established stakeholder forums in the respective provinces which implement measures to ultimately eradicate the illegal mining activities. Government has established the multi enforcement agency National Co-ordination Strategic and Management Team (NCSMT) to co-ordinate government’s efforts to fight illegal mining and trafficking of precious metals, including bringing about successful prosecution of illegal mining cases. The Department in collaboration with stakeholders has mainly adopted a three pronged approach on combating illegal mining, i.e promotion of legitimate mining, rehabilitation of mines and sealing of open shafts as well supporting policing and law enforcement where necessary.

PROMOTION OF LEGITIMATE MINING As part of government efforts in promoting opportunities for small scale mining, the DMR continues to promote legitimate mining and removal of exposed minerals at sites which are viable to mine. A mining permit to conduct mining operations in Ekurhuleni, where illegal mining activities were taking place and mining operations are ongoing.  The outcrop and sub-outcrop was mined successfully in an area that had significant illegal mining activities in Riverlea outside the Roodepoort area.

PROMOTION OF LEGITIMATE MINING

REHABILITATION OF ILLEGAL MINING SITES BEFORE AFTER

REHABILITATION OF ILLEGAL MINING SITES… BEFORE AFTER

SEALING AND CLOSING OF SHAFTS AND HOLES DMR through Council for Geoscience (CGS) has closed 200 open shafts progressively up to September 2016. Mining companies have closed 80 open shafts. 200 persons have been employed on the shaft sealing and land rehabilitation projects between 2015 and 2016.

POLICING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT Arrests have been made including of top mine management personnel, state officials and some of the king pins. Conviction rate increased from 2 months to 8 years jail sentence. R750 000. 00 cash was confiscated at an underground mine in the Free State Province. 9 kg of gold was confiscated in the Free State in September 2016. Earlier this year the Hawks arrested a man with unwrought gold, worth R50 million, concealed in the engine of a vehicle which was smuggling the precious metal from North West to Gauteng.

Illegal chrome mining in Limpopo POLICING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT… Illegal chrome mining in Limpopo Joint operations in collaboration with the South African Police Services (SAPS), the Hawks, the Sheriff of the court and cross border police to stop illegal mining. In some operations machineries used in the illegal mining were confiscated. The following is an example some of the photos taken in one of these joint operations:

POLICING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT…

CHALLENGES South Africa regulates the industry and criminalizes illegal possession, however this is not the case in many countries. The illegal mining modus operandi is continuously changing as the Government and relevant stakeholders implement measures ultimately to eradicate the illicit activities. Increase in violent crimes, including murder, as a result of rival gang activity fighting for diminishing opportunities. Attacks on SAPS, DMR, CGS and mine officials. Human trafficking and illegal immigration as most of the people doing the digging are from the neighbouring countries.

CHALLENGES… The illicit activities result in significant strain on the already tight Government resources including allocated budget and personnel. Continuous reopening of sealed shafts and new holings by illegal miners. Health and safety of the mine employees, communities and illegal miners adversely affected as a result of underground fires, fall of ground accidents and murder. Compromised surface infrastructure as a result of underground mining of remnants and stability pillars. Degradation of environment including water, soil and air pollution by processing in water streams and using mercury.

WAY FORWARD Support the National Co-ordination Strategic Management Team (NCSMT) initiatives including disruptive operations. Strengthening of legislative framework on issues of charges and sentencing of criminal syndicates. Continue supporting the implementation of the United Nations (UN) resolution on “Combatting transnational organized crime and its possible links to illicit trafficking in precious metals”. Strengthen the legal provisions to also criminalize this form of illegal mining activities. The Provincial Stakeholder Forums to continue implementing measures to combat illegal mining activities.

WAY FORWARD… Continue to collaborate with affected municipalities, land owners and mining companies on the rehabilitation of derelict mines and the sealing of open shafts and holings to prevent access to underground workings. Small refineries and jewellery shops to be identified and validity of licenses to be investigated. Promote legitimate mining and removal of exposed minerals where necessary including removing gravel and mine dumps. Continue supporting the alignment of local and national Government initiatives on assisting small scale miners.

THANK YOU.