Enforce rehabilitation

Ronald Mhlakaza

Schoonland mine started Mining Coal in our area since 2021 where community was not
proper consulted about the mine of which it’s a habit that become a norm to our community,
they continued to mine up until 2023 December as community we just noticed that there’s no
longer activity no moving of heavy mobile machinery and no blasting that use to take place
almost everyday but now we have a new problem the mine have left behind man made
mountain deep excavations of which big holes they are becoming swimming pools or dams
which are created by the Schoonland Mine and now the big problem is that kids are going
over there for a swimming to those big holes that are created by the mine and no one its
taking responsibility for that mess.

Schoonland Mine left the area open and not rehabilitated and big holes are becoming
swimming pools for kids to go over there and swim and its dangerous for these kids and the
water its itself it can be dangerous to these kids because of the chemicals from the coal also
possibilities of this kids to drown because those holes are too deep lot of risk that comes
with that area not rehabilitated.

Schoonland left the area 2023 December since from that time no one was operating in that
area and those big holes was since left like that and the problem of this kids disappearing
and go over there to swim it can be something that has been going on for long just that no
one has noticed that because you can’t see what is happening inside those big mountain not
unless you go inside the mine, one of the kids told his(main source uncle) that lot of these
kids around their area when they are disappeared they went there to swim.

This disastrous situation is happening in the Province of Mpumalanga under Emalahleni
Municipality Vosman area kwa-Guqa ext. 16 in a mine called Schoonland mine where the
area was left open not rehabilitated and the place its next to our community and also close to
the stream.
Because Schoonland after mining left the area open with big excavation’s big mountains
meaning the mine, they left without rehabilitating the area and now its left in a disastrous
state where community have suffered the impacts of the mine, when you don’t know about
that area you will think they are still operating by the look of things.

During the process of applying for mining rights the mine should have proper documents that
state clearly that once they are done mining its either 5 or 10 of mining, they will rehabilitate
the area and that should be in writing, of which that’s not the case the mine just left the area
without rehabilitating and the big holes are becoming swimming pools now and it’s not only
dam inside that mining area and its very scary to see those big holes filled with water.

Community was impacted by the activity of the mine while was still mining by blasting ,noise
, air pollution, dust , water contamination, cracking of houses , windows being broken , now
the community its impacted by the big holes that are becoming dams of which kids they are
swimming over that area possibility are very high for these kids to drown or get injured in that
area and the water itself can be a high risk due to chemicals that are there and the dust that
comes from that area when its windy and it poses danger to human life it can cause illnesses
such as lung infection , sinuses , tb, eye infection.

Source(ancle) does not want his name to be disclosed but he is a highly respected individual
in our community he is an EFF member and form part in ward committee
Quote from the main source
• We deserve to live in a healthy environment as human beings and be respected.
Data: we don’t have specific data for now of how many kids are going there for a swim and
how many families are affected by this but as far as we know that community is affected by
the mine more especially those who stays close by the mine and those who are sick
because of the mine, hopefully we will have that info when time goes by, I will make a follow
up on it.
• Human dignity must be up holed
Law should be unforced more especially to the big bosses mine owners even Government
officials , to those breaking the law when it comes to mining and emissions rule and
regulations should be followed
Everyone is equal to the law and we must treat them fairly and squarely.