Protecting Snake Park: The Urgent Need for Mine Tailings Safety Measures.
Scelo Sithole / Snake Park Bambanani
Protecting Snake Park: The Urgent Need for Mine Tailings Safety Measures.
By. Scelo Sithole / Snake Park Bambanani
Snake Park’s mine tailings pose a severe risk to the health, safety, and livelihoods of its residents. Yet, despite the daily hazards, mining powerholders like Pan African Resources have failed to inform the community about the dangers lurking in these abandoned tailings.
Children unknowingly swim in evaporation ponds, exposing themselves to hazardous toxic chemicals, while households unknowingly use contaminated mine sand for plastering, bringing toxic substances directly into their homes.
The lack of proper fencing and signposting has allowed these tailings to become unintended gathering sites for religious ceremonies where residents pray and speak to ancestors, and for motorcycle riders kicking up toxic dust that spreads rapidly across the community.
A Call for Accountability and Immediate Action
Pan African Resources must take immediate responsibility for securing Snake Park’s mine tailings and preventing further environmental harm. The following actions must be implemented:
- Proper closure and fencing of mine tailings to prevent public access.
- Clear sign postings and awareness campaigns to inform residents of environmental hazards.
- Surveillance systems to ensure compliance and prevent misuse of the land.
- Environmental rehabilitation through vegetation planting to reduce chemical exposure.
- Community education workshops on the dangers of mine tailings, including training on how to keep homes safe from toxic contamination.
- Access to cleaning materials to help households purify living spaces from hazardous mine dust exposure.
Without urgent intervention, our children, our homes, and our future remain in jeopardy. It is time for action, accountability, and commitment to ensuring a safe and healthy environment for Snake Park’s residents.
