Question NW970 to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
24 March 2023 - NW970
Mthenjane, Mr DF to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
What long-term plans of intervention has his department put in place to tackle the wide-scale illegal mining operations across the Republic in the past three years?
Reply:
a) The National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998 (NEMA) provides for regulation of activities which cannot be undertaken without an Environmental Authorisation, such listed activities includes mining and prospecting activities. If any person conducts a listed activity without an approved Environmental Authorisation they are committing an offense in terms of section 49A of NEMA and can be prosecuted following an investigation.
b) The Department is working with law enforcement authorities to deal with the scourge of illegal mining. There are several multi-disciplinary and intelligence led operations that have been successfully undertaken in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North-West, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Free State in this financial year. The operations are at various stages of investigation as a result, details remain sub judice, however, additional information can be obtained from the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority.
c) It should also be noted, especially with recent experiences in illegal mining, that the scourge has become an organised crime often led by sophisticated crime syndicates. Further operations are being planned together with law enforcement authorities to respond to challenges caused by illegal mining activities in the country.
d) The South African Police Service has also set up the Economic Infrastructure Task Team (EITT) which role is to address the scourge of crimes within the non-ferrous metals, essential infrastructure, critical infrastructure, extortion, and illegal mining. The Department of Minerals and Energy is working together with the envisaged unit.