The recent deaths of two young boys who drowned in a quarry in Mamelodi attributed to poorly monitored excavation of sand underpins the importance of clamping-down on non-compliant mining activities.
Director of surface mining industry association, Nico Pienaar, says: “These were two young boys who had their whole lives in front of them and should not have died in this way. Unfortunately, the blame must be laid squarely at the door of law enforcement who have been complacent in dealing with legal issues of quarrying for sand and aggregates for building purposes throughout South Africa.
“Not only do these kinds of excavations pose a danger to humans and animals, but they can also render the landscape unusable for future generations and pollute the waterways and environment. These acts should be seen as sabotage because the actions of the perpetrators can have devastating effects on surrounding communities and unfair competition can also lead to the collapse of formal operations with a devastating loss of employment for people in the area.”
Standing up
He adds that it is time the users of the materials including the contractors and end-users begin to take a stand and stop supporting unregistered, illegal operations. All tiers of Government should also be aware that the country needs a coordinated effort of South Africa’s legal quarrying in order to build future infrastructure.
The quarrying industry in South Africa is technically advanced and able to supply materials for modern construction techniques. However, many of the country’s quarries are under threat due to illegal operations and ill-considered borrow pits, which are undercutting the prices of formal quarries and bringing many to their knees.
Nico warns that without professionally managed quarries operating in our towns and cities and the cost of construction will become unaffordable for Government, developers and even for homeowners. If allowed to disappear we will see similar problems arise as with the Eskom energy and water crisis, where too little is done too late and the citizens will bear the brunt.
No future
“If municipalities, roads agencies and construction companies need specialised materials to build infrastructure or high strength concrete for mine shafts, high rise buildings or advanced new construction techniques we need to know that there is a professional industry to back up these plans. Imagine we can’t supply them because our formal quarrying industry – with its mining experts, blasting professionals, mineral processing engineers and skilled workers – have left the industry due to the quarries closing. Illegal miners and small-scale borrow pits don’t have the skills nor the expensive capital equipment to produce such materials.
“At what cost should we accept short term gains for cheaper prices. Should it be at the cost of our children and land usage, should it be at the cost of the environment or the safety of all people in the vicinity. How much longer do we allow the scourge of illegal mining to affect our lives and undermine the livelihoods of thousands of workers who are gainfully employed in the formal quarrying sector.
“Members of ASPASA and legal quarries cannot compete with prices of illegal operations and will always cost a small percentage extra. Users should however bear in mind that they must obtain mining, water usage and environmental permits and must abide by the strictest regulations possible just in order to begin quarrying operations.
Costly affair
Once in operation they are heavily regulated (in terms of the impact on surrounding communities) and have to comply with the strictest possible regulations relating to noise, dust and water pollution among others. An additional benefit is the creation of direct and indirect jobs that are sustainable over a long period of time.
In fact, the quarry industry has never been more responsible and committed to the communities they operate in. With the Government’s commitment to building new homes and the rising population growth, a strong demand for infrastructure development is required and this needs to be supported by legal quarry operations in every town and city.
“We are calling for Government, contractors, developers and the formal construction industry to recognize the important roles played by well resourced, well equipped, formal quarries and to completely eliminate all illegal digging operations,” concludes Nico.
