Residents living near mines are worried about the famous August winds blowing mine dust into their homes.
Mindalore residents blame Mintails Mining, a company actively mining in various areas in Krugersdorp, for the mine dust problem.
Kabelo Mphake, spokesperson for Mintails explained that the company has finished rehabilitating the mine near Mindalore in December last year.
“The final component of rehabilitation will be completed over the next few months,” he said.
According to Mphake, Mintails does not have any equipment currently operating in or around the Mindalore area.
Dewaal Venter, DA councillor for Ward 9 believes Mintails is not responsible for the dust blowing off mine dumps.
“A company that does not spray the dumps with water will cause dust issues in the community.”
Mintails is regulated by the Department of Mineral Resources and operates under an environmental management programme.
“The programme identifies all impacts our operations have on the environment. It puts mitigation measures in place to address these issues,” Mphake said.
Among the many mining companies in Krugersdorp, Mogale Crushers focuses on dust control by spraying water on mine dumps.
“We have a water truck driving around on the premises, spraying water all day long,” said Nico Langenhoven, Mogale Crushers’ head mechanic.
Langenhoven explained that dust is a problem for all mining companies and they have to regulate it.
“Most of the mine dumps in the area already have water sprayers that control the dust.”
The News asked Krugersdorpers if the dust really is a wide-spread concern. Most, if not all answered with a shrug.
“We are used to the mining and the dust. We have to be. There is nothing we can do about it,” a resident from Krugersdorp-West said.
