Illegal mining and it’s consequences

22-09-2021
Rapule Moiloa
Soweto diepkloof
City of joburg region 10
Gauteng

Concerns of illegal mining

Illegal mining continues to be a very serious problem that needs attention not after local government elections but must be a thing for now ,residents of Riverlea are troubled and have been complaining about Illegal mining operations taking place around their neighborhood.

Zamimpilo is an informal settlement in ward 68 of Riverlea and these is a life threatening for the residents of Riverlea and other people near Riverlea and other areas, these is a complainof many years as much as complains about bad rehabilitation that is not done by drd.

Zamimpilo is an informal settlement situated on top of Sasol gas lines,transnet fuel pipes and rand water but the worrying thing about Illegal mining if contact is made on these lines these could course heavy explosions and deaths since miners do not have professional experience nor equipments to locate where all these lines are situated.
Not only Riverlea as a neighborhood could experience problems and the sad thing is there is a police station not far from the informal settlement and they are well informed about the Illegal operations taking place and between 2017 and 2018 we were part of the visit to zamimpilo including jmpd,department of compliance monitoring and enforcement, witnessed the operations of Illegal mining and watched as miners went on with their operations but did nothing.