Johannesburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene has blamed Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and his department for failing to act against illegal mining and abandoned mining sites, saying municipalities are being forced to deal with the resulting damage to roads and other infrastructure.

Kunene made the remarks on Monday during an oversight visit to infrastructure sites in Roodepoort, Witpoortjie and Selby that have been severely affected by illegal mining activities.

The oversight included visits to collapsed roads, sinkholes and illegal mining access points where Joburg Roads Agency officials, JMPD officers, SAPS members and private security personnel accompanied the MMC.

At one of the illegal mining sites in Roodepoort, Kunene and officials inspected holes allegedly being used by zama-zamas to access underground tunnels. During the operation, officials cut electricity cables and water pipes believed to be supplying illegal mining operations underground.

Bags containing soil suspected to contain gold-bearing material were also slit open and destroyed.

Officials further dismantled makeshift structures and shacks allegedly built by illegal miners around the entrances to underground tunnels.

Addressing the media during the oversight, Kunene said the city was struggling to repair infrastructure because municipal workers were allegedly being threatened by armed illegal miners.

“The Department of Minerals is refusing to work with us to resolve this problem,” Kunene said.

He said he had personally approached Mantashe about challenges in Davidsonville, where mine dumps and illegal mining activities have damaged roads and nearby homes.

“I spoke to Minister Gwede Mantashe about the challenges at Davidsonville,” Kunene said.

“I invited the department of minerals so that we can address that problem. They came, they looked and they left.”

Kunene said officials later informed the city that reports had been escalated to national government, but no action followed.

“They said they are waiting for national. National has said nothing,” he said.

Kunene said illegal miners were entering abandoned underground tunnels and removing support pillars left by mining companies, causing the ground above to collapse.

“That is how we get sinkholes in the city of Johannesburg,” he said.

Kunene said that rehabilitating abandoned mines falls under the responsibility of the minerals department, not municipalities.

“Mining companies pay rehabilitation funds so that when they are done mining, government can rehabilitate these areas,” he said.

“There’s not one mine in South Africa that has been rehabilitated by the department of minerals.”

He questioned what had happened to rehabilitation funds collected from mining companies over the years.

“Where does that money go to?” Kunene asked.

The MMC said Johannesburg was being forced to deal with infrastructure destruction caused by mining activity without adequate funding or support from national government.

“We are left with a problem of mining that is not a competency or a mandate of JRA,” he said.

Kunene also criticised successive minerals ministers for failing to deal decisively with illegal mining operations.

“Which minister of minerals has ever brought the army to come and assist municipalities and the citizens of South Africa?” he asked. “No minister of minerals has ever taken responsibility for what is happening here.”

During the oversight visit, officials pointed out cables allegedly powering underground operations and several holes believed to be used by illegal miners to move between tunnels.

Kunene said some areas had become too dangerous for municipal workers because illegal miners were armed.

“When JRA comes here to work, zama-zamas start shooting,” he said.

He called for military intervention to combat illegal mining, saying the South African National Defence Force should work alongside the South African Police Service and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department.

“We need the army to come and meet them toe-to-toe,” Kunene said.

The MMC said Johannesburg needed around R100 billion to rehabilitate ageing road infrastructure, stormwater systems and bridges damaged by years of neglect and illegal mining activity.

“We need to reconstruct the whole road, start it afresh, use new technology so that we have 25 years of no potholes,” he said.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Kunene blames Mantashe for Joburg sinkhole crisis appeared first on Inside Politic.

Gauteng has identified several areas it wants the national government to help with.

Members of the provincial government met their national counterparts, headed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Thursday.

They said the province needed more support from law enforcement agencies to respond to threats from taxi violence, illegal mining and undocumented foreign nationals.

The province also wants help with disaster preparedness, response and recovery in areas affected by sinkholes. 

Sinkholes are prevalent in Gauteng because a large portion of the province is situated on dolomite rock. This is aggravated by past mining activities that have altered groundwater levels.

The Presidency said in a statement following the meeting that the provincial government identified other strategic areas for national-provincial cooperation that could stimulate economic development in Gauteng.

These included investment in bulk infrastructure and collaboration in enhancing investment in high-tech manufacturing for the green economy. 

Mining services, biotech, digital sectors and energy generation were also listed.

Ramaphosa urged the province to accelerate resolving recurring problems across the Gauteng government. They include governance failures, financial mismanagement, crumbling infrastructure, crime and lawlessness, and unreliable service delivery.

Discussions also addressed broader national challenges of unemployment and poverty, and the provision of water in some areas in the province.

Ramaphosa and his executives have been visiting the provinces to engage with provincial leaders and enhance cooperation between the three spheres of government. They are also aimed at ensuring better alignment of provincial priorities with the priorities of the Government of National Unity.

Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi welcomed the engagement, saying the provincial government would continue to work closely with the national government on governance, and social and economic development.

He identified the expansion of special economic zones and critical infrastructure refurbishments as vital elements for stimulating economic growth and sustainable service delivery in the province. 

Ramaphosa commended the province’s focus on the areas of cooperation between the national and provincial governments. He also outlined the importance of balancing development ambitions with budgetary realities.

“Furthermore, the president encouraged the province to work closely with the private sector in ensuring innovative ways of funding key infrastructure projects, including working with metros in providing incentives to crowd in private sector participation,” The Presidency said.

This is the fourth meeting the president has had with provinces.

He has previously visited Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

INSIDE POLITICS

The post Gauteng appeals for help from national govt on strategic areas appeared first on Inside Politic.