Illegal mining | Efforts to seal over 6,000 unused mines underway

JOHANNESBURG - Defence Minister Thandi Modise says government is working to close illegal mine shafts.

Modise says they’re looking to work with local communities in combating illegal mining.

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South Africa has over 6,000 dilapidated mines.

"Some of these mines are old and their owners cannot be traced," she said.

"We’re looking to work as that big team to do what is necessary, including looking at the legislation and regulation framework review."

Modise says the state will take prisoners when it comes to acts of crime.

She said over 2,700 people have been arrested, with only 63 being South Africans.

"The national intervention team deployed in Mpumalanga to deal with illegal mining and Eskom energy crisis resulted in the arrest of 67 illegal miners with mining equipment worth R180 -million and coal worth R12-million that was seized," Modise said.

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"Among those arrested, were 63 South Africans and 2,739 foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, DRC, Kenya, Pakistan and Uganda.

"These arrests indicate the multinational nature of illegal mining," she said.

"It must clearly be stated anyone who comes into conflict with the laws of South Africa must be dealt with harshly within the provisions of our justice system."