Government’s failure to ensure that mining companies comply with environmental and water licensing laws, compromise food security and the health of Mpumalanga residents. 

According to a report by a Non-Profit Organisation called the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), the ANC-led government has poor governance of mining and environmental rights in Mpumalanga.  

The report entitled Zero Hour: looks at governance issues surrounding mining in Mpumalanga, and presents evidence to support the notion that this government is not fulfilling its Constitutional mandate.

Click here for an executive summary of the report.

This report details the negative effects of government continuing to issue mining and exploration rights in areas that are important for food and water security.

Even though the report fingers the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), Water Affairs and Environmental Affairs as the main culprits, all case studies presented are from Mpumalanga. 

The provincial government cannot claim it’s a national competency when the devastating effects are felt by our community members on the day. At-least 47% of land that is considered to have high agricultural potential is found in Mpumalanga, with 21% of national plant species found in the province. 

With consideration of these figures, it boggles the mind that mining and prospecting applications have increased by over 300% between 2005 and 2010.

The province needs to practise responsible mining. Once the minerals are gone, mining companies disappear without rehabilitating the land, further compromising its agricultural value. The mining industry in the province is also on a downward slope. Since July 2014, this industry has shed 34 000 jobs and is now only employing only 5.6% of the labour force.

To ensure that this report is not swept under the rug, the DA in the province has:

- Highlighted the existence of the report in the last sitting of the House, to which the MEC of Finance, Economic Development & Tourism, Eric Kholwane, responded and said that EXCO had taken note of the report and would consider its findings.
- Wrote a letter to the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Land & Environmental Affairs and Economic Development & Tourism Hon Windvoël requesting that the contents of the report be discussed at the very first sitting of the portfolio committee post the elections.
- Requested, a meeting with MTPA CEO Abe Sibiya, where the contents of the report are one of the agenda items, and
- Will ensure that the report is tabled by our permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

The contents of the report vindicate the DA’s stance that there is a need for reform in the mining sector. Poor regulation and inefficiencies at The DMR are not only detrimental to communities as depicted by the report, but are also compromising investment opportunities.

The DA supports the submission by the House of Traditional Leaders that awarding of mining licenses should be done by an independent minerals body rather than the Minister of Mineral Resources as is currently the case.

Media Enquiries: 
Bosman Grobler, MPL
Spokesperson on Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs
083-697-0747

Portia Adams
Communications Manager
082-319-6666

Sydney Masinga
Media Officer
060-971-4297