Illegal sand mining in the Eastern Cape, especially on the Wild Coast, should be stopped immediately by Gwede Mantashe.
This was urged by the Democratic Alliance (DA) who called on the new Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) political head to act swiftly and decisively against illegal sand mining in the Eastern Cape.
DA MPL Jane Cowley also called for the province to get involved in the battle over the mining of the red dunes of Xolobeni.
The community of Xolobeni, which has fought against mining of the dunes for a decade, was back in court last week seeking to stop the national government from issuing mining rights to Australian outfit MRC and its partners.
The party said MEC for economic development, environmental affairs and tourism Sakhumzi Somyo had played no role in guarding the environment, including stopping the illegal mining of sand which is sold to building companies.
In response, Somyo said the DMR was the only authority mandated to enforce laws relating to mining. He said his department had been trying to liaise with DMR.
“We have attempted on numerous occasions to liaise with the DMR and submitted complaints to them about the illegal sand mining along the Wild Coast. DMR has seldom honoured the arrangements as they are understaffed,” he said.
Cowley said illegal mining of building sand on the Wild Coast also threatened Xolobeni.
She said the the provincial department’s inaction meant that the national government, represented by the Mantashe’s DMR, had free rein when it came to deciding on how to handle resistance to mining at Xolobeni.
“A response from MEC Sakhumzi Somyo indicates that sand mining is in effect a free-for-all activity.
“The DA calls upon the Minister of Mineral Resources to act swiftly and decisively to put a stop to the illegal sand mining activities in the Eastern Cape Province, said Cowley.
Last week hundreds of supporters from Mpumalanga, Free State, Limpopo and the North West travelled to Pretoria to lend their support to the people of Xolobeni when their case was heard in the North Gauteng High Court.
The Xolobeni community was asking the court to refuse the Department of Mineral Resources the right to grant a licence to extract titanium from their ancestral land on the Wild Coast. — simthandilef@dispatch.co.za
DA enters Wild Coast sand mining fray
This was urged by the Democratic Alliance (DA) who called on the new Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) political head to act swiftly and decisively against illegal sand mining in the Eastern Cape.
DA MPL Jane Cowley also called for the province to get involved in the battle over the mining of the red dunes of Xolobeni.
The community of Xolobeni, which has fought against mining of the dunes for a decade, was back in court last week seeking to stop the national government from issuing mining rights to Australian outfit MRC and its partners.
The party said MEC for economic development, environmental affairs and tourism Sakhumzi Somyo had played no role in guarding the environment, including stopping the illegal mining of sand which is sold to building companies.
In response, Somyo said the DMR was the only authority mandated to enforce laws relating to mining. He said his department had been trying to liaise with DMR.
“We have attempted on numerous occasions to liaise with the DMR and submitted complaints to them about the illegal sand mining along the Wild Coast. DMR has seldom honoured the arrangements as they are understaffed,” he said.
Cowley said illegal mining of building sand on the Wild Coast also threatened Xolobeni.
She said the the provincial department’s inaction meant that the national government, represented by the Mantashe’s DMR, had free rein when it came to deciding on how to handle resistance to mining at Xolobeni.
“A response from MEC Sakhumzi Somyo indicates that sand mining is in effect a free-for-all activity.
“The DA calls upon the Minister of Mineral Resources to act swiftly and decisively to put a stop to the illegal sand mining activities in the Eastern Cape Province, said Cowley.
Last week hundreds of supporters from Mpumalanga, Free State, Limpopo and the North West travelled to Pretoria to lend their support to the people of Xolobeni when their case was heard in the North Gauteng High Court.
The Xolobeni community was asking the court to refuse the Department of Mineral Resources the right to grant a licence to extract titanium from their ancestral land on the Wild Coast. — simthandilef@dispatch.co.za
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