Unemployed youth resort to small-scale mining
Unemployed youth have taken upon themselves to explore artisan mining for survival.
Kwa-Thema – A group of unemployed youth affiliated with Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) have resorted to artisan mining to fight unemployment in the area.
The group started mining gold, clay soil and rocks in the old Vlakfontein mine last year and is attracting more unemployed youth.
Walking through the abandoned mine, one is exposed to a hive of activity. Scattered miners, mostly men, can be seen digging and breaking rocks while women fill up old maize meal bags with clay soil to sell to those who enjoy it in the township.
Trucks full of rocks can be seen driving in and out of the area which are also sold to those who have building projects.
Artisan miner Gift Radebe said the call was an act of desperation by young people who are educated and skilled but struggling to find employment.
“We identified the four abandoned mines in Springs, and the Vlakfontein mine proved to be safer as all the shafts have been closed. This reduces the safety risks as we only have access to the surface.
“Now that we have established that one can make a livelihood from artisanal mining, we are working to attract the government to formalise the industry,” he said.
Gift added that they are also calling on the government to close all the abandoned mining shafts to enable young unemployed people to extract what is left of the minerals in a safe environment.
Artisan miner Simon Maredi is one of the experienced miners imparting their skills and knowledge to the youth.
He worked in a mine for nine years and when he left the industry, he decided to join the artisan miners.
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“I am happy to see young people taking interest in artisan mining to improve their livelihood and curb unemployment.
“This will lead to the government granting us the permits to work as small-scale miners, which will lead to better working conditions and donations of working tools,” he added.
Add as a last paragraph: The chairperson of the National Association for Artisanal Mining (NAAM) Mike Mbizana confirmed that the group was affiliated to the association.
He explained artisanal mining cannot be compared to the illegal work conducted by the ZamaZamas.
“Artisanal miners have permits to mine on the surface and all their operations are legal and their safety is paramount,” he said.
