DA continues to call for urgent intervention by national government to address the continuous illegal mining activities by Zama-Zamas in the City of Ekurhuleni by Haseena Ismail, MP - DA Benoni Constituency Head

9 September 2022

The Democratic Alliance has been calling for an urgent intervention by national government to address the continuous illegal mining activities by Zama-Zamas in the City of Ekurhuleni.

Illegal mining is a cause of major concern and fear for residents. It causes huge tremors, and is accompanied by explosions and gunfights between rival gangs. 

Not only does the illegal activity have a major impact on the environment (due to holes, blocked rivers and broken sewerage lines), it is damaging infrastructure and assets, chasing away business, and putting the lives and health of residents at risk.

The Democratic Alliance launched a petition calling on the portfolio committees of Mineral Resources & Energy and Forestry & Fisheries, SAPS, and Home Affairs to work together to address this crisis. The local SAPS, EMPD and security companies simply do not have the manpower to deal with this. To date the petition has received in excess of 11 000 signatures.  The DA further requested that Parliament debates illegal mining and its impact on the economy and the loss of lives as a result of illegal mining.

To date the national government has not provided any clear strategy on how to address the impending illegal mining activities. There are no clear-cut strategies like trained specialised units to effectively deal with illegal mining.  It is unfortunate that we have a re- active government rather than a pro- active government in dealing with issues affecting our country.

Issued by Haseena Ismail, Member of Parliament, DA, 9 September 2022