The cost of mining operations

It is a sorry fact that the mining of gold, uranium, coal and other metals and elements has left a legacy of damage to South Africa and her communities. The funding put aside within government departments and by the mining companies themselves come nowhere near providing for remediation.

Now a public private partnership is urgently required to handle the disaster of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) throughout Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape Provinces. This highly toxic water is pouring out of the ground in the West Rand, Far West Rand and Far East Rand. As it gushes into our rivers and streams, it pollutes no only them, but the groundwater and the ground itself. This means a lost of precious land and water resources, making the areas vulnerable and decreasing food and water security in the areas affected.

The tour of the West Rand run by activist Mariette Liefferink takes place regularly and gives other activists, government officials and MPs an opportunity to see the problems first hand. It starts at the Lancaster Dam: (download .pdf to read the rest of this report)