Abandoned shafts still a reality around mining communities
Makhotla Sefuli
The derelict and abandoned mine shafts are still a grave danger to our people around mining communities. Mining companies continue to live with impunity, even after thirty years into democracy. This has the potential to cultivate a fertile ground for illegal mining. Not to mention the environmental impact this will bring to the local residents.
The shafts of the old President Steyn Gold Mine were closed a long time ago, and the operations ceased after the official announcement of their closure by Anglo American. All the shafts of President Steyn were very close to the community of Thabong, workers used to walk to work and come back in the afternoon. People had no reason to commute to work. Some of the infrastructure of the mine was left for the good use of the community, like the old Number One Hostel that was converted into low cost housing project. The sad part is that this housing project is right in front of the abandoned shaft that is not even fenced.
The only form of fencing is the pile of stones around the shaft, with beacons of concrete marked no entry. The area is not even patrolled, access to the area is very easy with no effort. Recently a new homestead was erected not far from the abandoned shaft, these are the shacks built by the small community of livestock farmers. The number is increasing at a rapid rate and the likelihood is that it will grow into a community by the end of the year.
Different types of livestock are grazing around the shaft, cattle, sheep and goats are all seen around grazing. After midday the shepherds take their livestock to drink at the streams of water contaminated by AMD. My intervention as a community monitor fell on deaf ears, the shepherds could not understand what I meant by Acid Mine Drainage.
The livestock are very lean from eating the dry grass that is short and overgrazed. Some of them are showing signs of malnutrition. Others are crippled with swollen legs, what boggles the mind is whether they are suffering from an undisclosed disease of just a random winter related sickness.
I had a conversation with some of the livestock owners, and he told me that the municipality promised to arrange a veterinary surgeon for them. They are still waiting for the surgeon until now, they are disillusioned with the municipality. They are left with no option, but to make use of what they have. The only concern is the public who are going to buy and consume those animals. We are in the middle of Winter, Spring is still to come with strong winds that will blow away the grass and the livestock will be left with nothing to eat.
The local government needs to provide a VET for local farmers to prevent loss of revenue, because some of them are living off the livestock and the land they were allocated.
