Villagers angry with illegal sand miners in Limpopo have taken the law into their own hands and stopped operators from mining in their area.
Residents of GaKomape village in Moletjie, near Polokwane, said they were fed up with people mining sand illegally in the area without permits.
Sowetan recently reported that residents of the neighbouring Mahwibitswane village turned to the government for help after their grazing land was ruined.
The regional office of the department of mineral resources in the province then warned some of the illegal miners to cease operations.
Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa recently told the SA Human Rights Commission that illegal sand mining is a widespread problem and the biggest culprits were road builders.
The association also warned of irreversible environmental damage as illegal operators had no long-term plan to rehabilitate the land.
Yesterday, there were smouldering tyres near the R567 road to Gilead where villagers were picketing.
"You are not allowed to dig sand in GaKomape! You are destroying our land," they chanted.
GaKomape Traditional Council chairman Philemon Komape vowed that residents would stand guard every morning to make sure that no truck passed through.
Komape said the community marched to the area early in the morning and found people loading sand. He said they stopped the miners and drove them out to the edge of the road.
"We want to sit down and speak to them about what they are doing. Our river bank is destroyed and the deep holes make it easy for our cattle to be stolen," Komape said.
Resident William Mokgolo said he lost 14 cows this year that had been stolen.
Mokgolo said cattle thieves parked their vehicles inside the deep holes while loading the cattle. "It is very bad. This [illegal mining] is influencing cattle theft," he said.
The foundation of a bridge near the road has also been removed after illegal miners apparently dug through it.
Another resident on the scene pointed out that the bridge would soon fall. "Look at those cracks. This bridge can fall at any time," he said
Komape blamed Chief Solomon Moloto for allowing illegal operators in the area.
But Moletjie Traditional Council Representative Sello Moloto dismissed the claim.
"As moshate we do not give permission to miners. It is the department of mineral resources who gives permission," Moloto said.
He said in some cases the community fought with contractors despite the fact that they were issued with permits, adding that the council had no record of illegal operators.
"If mineral resources gives those people permission we cannot stop them," he said.
Moloto pleaded with the community to report problems to tribal authority offices so that they could take the matter up with the department.
Yesterday, Sowetan made attempts to speak to one of the suspected illegal sand miners on the scene but the man declined to comment.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
Villagers block road to stop 'illegal miners' in their area
Villagers angry with illegal sand miners in Limpopo have taken the law into their own hands and stopped operators from mining in their area.
Residents of GaKomape village in Moletjie, near Polokwane, said they were fed up with people mining sand illegally in the area without permits.
Sowetan recently reported that residents of the neighbouring Mahwibitswane village turned to the government for help after their grazing land was ruined.
The regional office of the department of mineral resources in the province then warned some of the illegal miners to cease operations.
Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa recently told the SA Human Rights Commission that illegal sand mining is a widespread problem and the biggest culprits were road builders.
The association also warned of irreversible environmental damage as illegal operators had no long-term plan to rehabilitate the land.
Yesterday, there were smouldering tyres near the R567 road to Gilead where villagers were picketing.
"You are not allowed to dig sand in GaKomape! You are destroying our land," they chanted.
GaKomape Traditional Council chairman Philemon Komape vowed that residents would stand guard every morning to make sure that no truck passed through.
Komape said the community marched to the area early in the morning and found people loading sand. He said they stopped the miners and drove them out to the edge of the road.
"We want to sit down and speak to them about what they are doing. Our river bank is destroyed and the deep holes make it easy for our cattle to be stolen," Komape said.
Resident William Mokgolo said he lost 14 cows this year that had been stolen.
Mokgolo said cattle thieves parked their vehicles inside the deep holes while loading the cattle. "It is very bad. This [illegal mining] is influencing cattle theft," he said.
The foundation of a bridge near the road has also been removed after illegal miners apparently dug through it.
Another resident on the scene pointed out that the bridge would soon fall. "Look at those cracks. This bridge can fall at any time," he said
Komape blamed Chief Solomon Moloto for allowing illegal operators in the area.
But Moletjie Traditional Council Representative Sello Moloto dismissed the claim.
"As moshate we do not give permission to miners. It is the department of mineral resources who gives permission," Moloto said.
He said in some cases the community fought with contractors despite the fact that they were issued with permits, adding that the council had no record of illegal operators.
"If mineral resources gives those people permission we cannot stop them," he said.
Moloto pleaded with the community to report problems to tribal authority offices so that they could take the matter up with the department.
Yesterday, Sowetan made attempts to speak to one of the suspected illegal sand miners on the scene but the man declined to comment.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
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