Question NW3105 to the Minister of Mineral Resources
06 November 2017 - NW3105
Schmidt, Adv H to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources
(1)Whether his department has received any complaints with regard to mining activities conducted by a certain company (name furnished) on any of the sites in Portion 3, the remaining extent of Portion 1 and the remaining extent of the farm Woodlands 407 in the Magisterial District of Parys, Free State; if so, (2) whether inspectors and/or other officials from his department inspected the mining activities at the specified sites since November 2016; if so, what are the (a) dates on which inspectors and/or other officials inspected the sites and (b) findings and recommendations of the inspectors and/or other officials; (3) on which dates did his department receive applications by the specified company for the renewal of mining permits submitted in respect of each individual application; (4) (a) on which dates were the specified mining permits renewed and (b) for which periods; (5) what kind of documentation and/or permission and/or authorisation from the Department of Water and Sanitation has been accepted by his department to the effect that the specified company may use water for mining activities on the three mining areas?
Reply:
(1) Yes, the DMR has received complaints in respect to mining activities being conducted by Winners Point 117 Trading (Pty) Ltd.
(2)
|
Date inspection conducted |
Findings |
Recommendations |
|
24 November 2016 |
Dust Noise |
A letter was sent to the company regarding the findings of the inspection and the company was directed to communicate with residence of Vaal Eden around the mining areas in order to resolve issues relating to mining. The company was also directed put in place a monitoring programme for dust and noise. |
|
24 August 2017 |
The complaint was about illegal mining taking place on the area, dust, noise and accumulative effects of mining affecting the road. The findings of the inspection were:
|
The company will be monitored continually to ensure compliance to the approved documents. |
|
30 August 2017 |
There was no mining activities taking place on FS 30/5/1/3/2/302 MP and FS 30/5/1/3/2/342 MP. Mining activities were taking place on FS 30/5/1/3/2/303 MP |
Letters were sent to the company regarding submission of financial provision and performance assessment report for on FS 30/5/1/3/2/302 MP and FS 30/5/1/3/2/304 MP on the 11th of September 2017 and 12th of September 2017. A pre–compliance notice was sent to the company regarding non-compliances observed on FS 30/5/1/3/2/303 MP on the 28th of September 2017. |
(3)
|
Ref No. |
Date received |
|
FS 30/5/1/3/2/302 MP |
1st renewal-25/11/2011 2ndrenewal-23/04/2013 3rdrenewal-25/05/2015 |
|
FS 30/5/1/3/2/303 MP |
1st renewal-25/11/2011 2ndrenewal-23/04/2013 3rdrenewal-25/05/2015 |
|
FS 30/5/1/3/2/304 MP |
1st renewal-25/11/2011 2ndrenewal-23/05/2013 3rdrenewal-25/05/2015 |
(4) (a)(b)
|
Ref No. |
Date renewed |
Period of renewal |
|
FS 30/5/1/3/2/302 MP |
1strenewal-26/04/2012 to 25/04/2013 2ndrenewal- 26/05/2014 to 25/05/2015 |
1st renewal- 1 year 2nd renewal- 1 year 3rd renewal- still in process |
|
FS 30/5/1/3/2/303 MP |
1strenewal-24/04/2012 to 23/04/2013 2ndrenewal- 26/05/2014 to 25/05/2015 |
1st renewal- 1 year 2nd renewal- 1 year 3rd renewal- still in process |
|
FS 30/5/1/3/2/304 MP |
1strenewal- 17/04/2012 to 16/04/2013 2ndrenewal-26/05/2014 to 25/04/201 |
1st renewal- 1 year 2nd renewal- 1 year 3rd renewal- still in process |
(5) The Department does not have jurisdiction over water use license applications however, the Department is required to consult the Department of Water and Sanitation regarding all mining and prospecting applications. The Department consulted the Department of Water and Sanitation regarding the application by Winnerspoint 117 Trading (Pty) Ltd on the 26th of October 2009, 10/09/2009 and 18/09/2009 respectively and it is also a legal condition to the approved EMPr that the holder must ensure that any water uses listed in terms of section 21 of NWA must get authorization from the Department of Water and Sanitation prior to the commencement of such activity.
Approved/Not Approved
Mr MJ Zwane, MP
Minister of Mineral Resources
Date Submitted:-……………/………………/2017