DMR to permanently close mine shafts

A team from the Department of Minerals and Resources (DMR) recently visited Benoni to establish a course of action that might see the permanent closure of mine shafts associated with illegal mining operations.

Guided by members of the Benoni Police Station’s Public Order Policing, sector managers and Lt-Col Mark Naidoo (visible policing operational commander for the Ekurhuleni district), who are familiar with the illegal mining activities in the area, the team could take 3D as well as GPS readings to ascertain the locations and the intricate flow of both existing mine shafts and ventilation tunnels.

“They have scanned 18 shafts and tunnels from Mackenzie Park through to Golden Drive,” said Capt Nomsa Sekele, spokesperson for the station.

“The plan is to see if it would be sustainable to have the holes backfilled and then sealed with concrete.”

According to Sekele, they could not visit shaft 13, Van Rhyn, where police and miners clashed on February 24 as the area is secured by zama-zama sharpshooters.

“The illegal miners are setting traps to attempt to prevent police operations from entering the area,” she said.

“Despite this, our operations are ongoing and yielding success.

“We hope that any initiative undertaken by the DMR will hamper and even eradicate their activities.”

It is estimated a single shaft will cost close to R4-million to fill.

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