Subject: Land Degradation, South Africa’s Deepening Shallow Grave

Land, better be described: the factor of production, as notion through reasoned economic norms and standards.

Land has and is opulent catalyst in South Africa. The state boasts and owns its current socio-economic standards and financial helm to this prestigious resource. From rich agricultural, mining and constructions, land is fate for the state and its inhabitants.

The Mpumalanga province however, suggests proverbial notion. Rich in diversified agricultural, mining and tourism resources those boasting from commodity minerals and cultivating foods to ancient enticing flora & fauna posing as heritage site- are al due to land.

Land degradation is synonymous of note. This is element which causes Acid Drainage Mining( AMD).

Encouraged by extensive research and analysis from processes incorporated and achieved throughout-mining operations exercised and practiced, suggested ideally as common cause.

Mpumalanga hosts gold mines extending from gold, coal, manganese, nickel and asbestos.

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DoE), Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) sub national government sphere with governmental conservation bodies hosted with private sector research organisations formed joint partnership set motive having intervened and conducted an in-depth investigation about dilapidating land and resources allocated nearby.

Producing hypothesis from a formulated report, these stakeholders cited resolution that the land present possessed by both public and private sector is gradually declining, deteriorating due to a persistent factor: mine holes (open mines).

This phenomena is believed to be associated with underground but more especially open-cast mining operations. Mines are left off abandoned for and unattended unto post operations. Open-pits are therefore a clear indication sought been discovered and speculated to be environmental catastrophic cost due to neglect and abdication.

·         Foreign (mining) companies were accounted as the main direct parties of blame.

·         Farmers (commercial & subsistence) practiced unsustainable agricultural practices.

·         Household communities constructed settlements anywhere without proper planning & use.

News24, a digital media news house reported that the land resources being degraded are due to exploited land used which are not anymore rehabilitated post mining production exercised, as supposed.

Commonly are coal and gold mines in areas such be Witbank (Emalahleni), Barberton, Secunda and Middelburg. DMR with the Mineral Resources Council and Council for Geoscience surveyed, most areas and stressed alarming call for urgent reform measures and mechanisms be developed and enforced effectively as such a phenomena has  escalated further, effected socio-economic spheres: human settlements, conservation parks, botanical gardens etc.

The agricultural/farming community ventured path; launching grievances as to the extent in loss of damage suffered unto farming plantations and livestock existence. Thus, soil neutrality and fertility had gone unproductive. Water catchments, streams and underground tables have been contaminated- polluted and clogged by chemicals which result to livestock and fishery death and depletion.

Famers highlighted that the farming and nutrition growth fertiliser products used end up not satisfying ideal intended agricultural product growth and techniques- damping production growth amid hiking operational costs. This caused farmers to be “trapped” in loans from banks and insurance institutions.

Other economic sectors within the region suffered. Barberton incurred a cotton fool growing disinvestment. The natural vegetation contained as mountains, springs& streams became damaged whilst other depleted.

Water catchments and patterns constituting surface water rainfall ran dry and eroded. This had dire impact upon municipality strategies and tourism industry. Roads are tarnished with cracks and water resources have been polluted spelling protest threats.

The problem extended to demoralising the social standard stability aswel. Due to unemployment, many youth, dubbed “zama-zama’s( illegal diggers)” have been arrested, injured nevertheless passed on frequently so, are persistently engaged in illegal mining activities due to seizing the opportunity to extract from open neglected mines. 

News24 highlighted that illegal mining cause a demining concern upon pivotal underground infrastructure: gas pipelines, electricity and water cables as the “zama-zamas” dig 30cm close.

These uncalled for actions and courses have poised harmful effects to socio-environmental stability and sustainability.

Natural biodiversity features wildlife has too lost habitat, eradicating lie cycle norms. Ecosystem specie migration has decayed in uncontrollable patterns.

News24 featured John Mthembo, an environmental activist- member of an NGO called Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action, outlined key critical steps to combat the plight exposed to, post investigation analysis.

“Nearly 6 000 derelict and ownerless mines being studied by the Council for Geoscience and rehabilitated by Mintek were abandoned before the rehabilitation regulations took effect in May 2004, so the tens of billions of rand needed for clean-up of those mines cannot come from current financial provisions”.

News24 reported that during a parliamentary sitting, the Department of Environmental Affairs noted the issue, citing that the estimated cost of land requiring rehabilitation is set to be at R200bn. Thus R60bn exists in fund to be used for rehabilitation purposes.

DoE in partnership with DMR has investigated the matter and developed risk-free preventative measures and mechanisms during the national Mining Indaba conference in 2016. A regulatory policy planned, drafted was promulgated.

Amongst the resolutions undertaken, certain aspects outcome resolutions undertaken include the following:

Ø  Sanction cooperates which fail to undertake precautionary measures to implement environmental rehabilitation standards.

Ø  Encourage public-private partnerships to set-up an environmental fund, conduct corporate social investment and responsibility.

Ø  Local government (municipalities) to establish and enforce environment bi-laws, policies.

Ø  Accelerate service delivery and standardise mining operations.

Ø  Provincial and Local government set out sustainable agricultural and effective farming practices.

Ø  Establish a tax system charge to fund and rehabilitate degraded land.