ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member Nomvula Mokonyane slammed mining companies on the West Rand, saying they should be taking the blame for the illegal mining activities in the different communities.

She was addressing angry protesters outside the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court yesterday where 61 of the 80 illegal miners arrested and charged in terms of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 were set to appear.

Mokonyane acknowledged that illegal mining was a problem on the West Rand.

“The blame should be on existing mining houses. They’ve exploited the mineral resources and left us with the mine dumps.

“They’ve also brought in labour from foreign countries and when they shut down operations, they don’t send the workers back to their countries of origin. Now, people believe this is black-on-black violence,” said Mokonyane who added that the recent protests were nothing but a stand against criminality.

She called on locals to go to the Chamber of Mines to air their frustrations with regards to illegal mining in the area, and she lambasted the chamber for its silence on the matter.