© ISTOCK – yevtony
IN BRIEF
GANGSTERISM THREATENS MINE PRODUCTIVITY
© ISTOCK – Alfio Manciagli
Illegal mining and gangsterism threatens to bring the country’s mining industry to its knees unless its role players work together to eliminate these problems. This is according to the Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of SA (ASPASA), which says the SA mining industry is on the brink of catastrophe if immediate action isn’t taken. “Illegal mining puts undue pressure on surface mining companies that are already under pressure due to regulatory, economic and spiralling input costs on their mines. In contrast, illegal miners seem to operate with impunity above the law and bypass regulations to undercut the pricing of legitimate miners,” says ASPASA director Nico Pienaar. This, he says, is unsustainable and has led to the demise of many of the smaller and more marginal mines. Of huge concern is the increasing violence of mine invaders and gangsters, who are even kidnapping mine managers’ wives and demanding massive ransoms. Killings and threats are becoming the order of the day, and require urgent attention. “We are asking our members and other mines to contact us with information about the situation in their areas. The information will be used to create a field report, which will provide insights on the prevalent trends (including criminals’ modus operandi), the economic impact and the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts. This may be submitted to us to enable authorities to develop strategies on how to deal with the issue of illegal mining.”
Nico Pienaar.
6
SA MINING
JULY / AUGUST 2022
CLIMATE-PROOF ROADS
The vulnerability of South Africa’s primary road network to severe flooding and climate change-related incidents has been thrust into the public domain in recent months, notably via the devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal. There’s a clear need to make the country’s road network more resilient to climate stress factors, such as flooding and extreme temperatures, says Solomon Kganyago, COO of the Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire. “This can be primarily achieved through comprehensive maintenance to extend the lifespan of road networks that were built many decades ago. We need to adapt to materials and construction methods that are in line with countries experiencing similar weather patterns,” he says. “If this is not done in a planned and pro-active manner, the climate will continue to cause substantial disruptions to transport networks and lead to soaring costs for future repairs and rehabilitation of vital road arteries.” Early and preventive action saves both money and lives in the long run. If the road network is not adequately maintained, the costs will eventually accrue to the entire economy. Regular maintenance and timeous upgrades of roads have a multiplying effect on downstream economic activities. “What is needed is a national approach to coordinate ongoing research of new materials and innovative construction methods that can mitigate the impact of adverse weather conditions on roads. We believe the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research can play a leading role in this regard, in collaboration with the Department of Transport,” says Kganyago.
www.samining.co.za
