COUNTRY IN FOCUS •
EMBRACE SMALL-SCALE
MINING
By Nico Pienaar, director of Aspasa
When all is running smoothly, and suddenly the unexpected hits the world,
then there is a huge calamity. The last two or three years have already been
tough in the mining industry in South Africa.
On the small mining industry’s side there have been
various issues that have slowed things down. For
example, there is hardly any infrastructure work
taking place. Illegal mining is ‘allowed’ while an excessive
number of changes to legislation results in regulatory
uncertainty. In addition complicated legislation that
applies to the formal industry, but does not apply to illegal
operations causes unhappiness, and an enormous number of
inspections are carried out on legal operations, while no visits
are paid to illegal mines operations, or the unprofessional
sites, who might have a mining licence or permit, but operate
very unprofessionally. These are all reasons for concern.
Although small surface mines are in big trouble at the
moment, they will probably recover, although it will take time.
What will be needed to fix the abovementioned issues will
have to be at the same level as trying to halt Covid-19. When
things go well, then we tend to turn a blind eye, but when we
get back to work there will have to be changes. There will have
to be new focus areas, new ways of operating and to refocus
on what we do right and to do away with practices that do not
add value.
Small mines and quarries will recover from the after-effects of
the pandemic. These operations are used to survive and make
a living from very little - they are survivors. Small scale miners
make up a large percentage of ASPASA members. I have no
doubt that they will get up again, even if it takes time. These
entrepreneurs are well suited for an environment characterised
by various up and downs.
The small-scale mining and quarrying industries are essential
for the survival of the country. For example, aggregate and sand
are the most mined minerals in the world. These two products
are essential to secure infrastructure development. Many other
Aspasa members are also essential, including salt mining, clay
for toilets and basins, silica that is used in processes and many
more. Clay bricks are needed to build houses. In other words,
these minerals are not the ‘nice to have’, they are essential to the
survival of humans.
It is essential for the South African government to look after
the small scale-mining and quarrying industries when the
economy returns to normal, as jobs and communities depend
on the this sector, which is scattered all over the country and
individually play a major role, but more so, as a group are
absolutely essential.
"The small-scale mining and
quarrying industries are essential
for the survival of the country.
www. africanmining.co.za
African Mining Publication
African Mining
African Mining • May 2020 • 25