EFF Sekhukhune demand harsh actions on Mapoch Mine drowning tragedy

ROOSENEKAL

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Sekhukhune Region, stated that they have written to Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Gwede Mantashe, seeking his intervention to hold Mapoch Mine management accountable for the death of two school children who drowned at the mining area on 2 November 2024.

The victims were part of a group of school children from Railway Station Village in Roosenekal in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality (EMLM), who were busy with their school projects inside the mine yard next to the abandoned dam.

It is alleged that because of high temperatures, the deceased might have tempted to swim in the abandoned muddy dam. Those ones who were busy with school projects realized that the two were missing and they quickly rushed home to seek for help.

A group of community members and victims’ families searched the area and proceeded to the abandoned semi-flooded mine catchment dam which was filled with water due to the recent rains that fell in the area.

During the search, they met by the sight of their children’s clothes next to the dam and started anticipating that they might have drowned.

The police were called where lifeless bodies of the victims were retrieved from the dam around 18h00 and they were identified as from Thamane and Moela families, both from Railway Station Village.

EFF Sekhukhune Regional Chairperson, Ali Maloba, said they are concerned about the loss of these innocent young lives and urged Mapoch Mine management to take full responsibility of the negligence of leaving catchments opened, stating that it deliberately poses danger to villages living next to the mine.

Maloba stated that the party visited the area following the incident and discovered that Mapoch Mine is violating health and safety Act, 1996 (Act No 29 of 1996), which enforces to safeguard the health and safety of mine employees and communities affected by mining operation. 

He said during the visit, the EFF discovered that the mine is not properly fenced, the structure of the shaft looks very old, not less than 8 abandoned dams were visible on sight, warning or direction signs are very old, a mining oil dam also abandoned, non-functioning access control and safety department.

“We also discovered that the plant equipment permits have expired, employees are not wearing protective gear and the mining occupational health and safety programmes were not in place,” he said.

Maloba lambasted DMRE for not actively playing their role by issuing operating certificate without considering safety and local communities.

“We learned that in 2021, DMRE issued a permit for mining to Mapoch Mine without considering all the required regulations. Not forgetting that mining permits are aimed at controlling prospecting and mining, having regard to considerations for health and safety, environmental management and the responsible extraction of minerals,” he said.

According to Maloba, mining permit is valid for the specified period, but not exceeding two years, however, in this case, the permit for Mapoch Mine was renewed by DMRE Limpopo without considering compliance.

“Mining is an important industry in Sekhukhune but it is also an industry with a damaging impact for the rural communities, questions need to be asked,” asked Maloba.

Maloba stressed that in this regard, Mapoch Mine is responsible for any harm that may be caused by the company to the community, as stipulated in the mining charter where two young lives were lost because of negligence caused by the mine and therefore, proper compensation is needed for the families and counselling for the affected learners.

“Mapoch Mine has committed a criminal offence by starting mining without considering compliance. It is evident that the mine deliberately lied to DMRE and to the minister of mineral resources. By defying and violating mining charter, criminal case against the mine should be opened of which is what we are considering,” explained Maloba.

He said the party has also requested the minister to also hold DMRE Limpopo liable for the damages caused. Mapoch Mine could not respond to the newspaper at the time of going to press.