Mining encroaching on homes
HOLPAN community members have raised concerns about the mining activities in their area after the miners started to dig less than 100 metres from their homes.
Holpan is situated between Barkly West and Windsorton and has a population of approximately 500 households.
The community pointed out that holes are being dug up around their homes and their graves are also being dug up in the process.
They also claim that the miners have damaged Eskom facilities in the area, which interrupts their power supply.
The community members said that there are three mining companies operating in the area.
They accused the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) of turning a blind eye to the mines’ “blatant disregard of mining policies and regulations”.
This after several attempts to bring their concerns to the DMR failed.
A concerned community member added that they have tried to engage the DMR several times but always end up dealing with different officials each time, who are “clueless” about their problems.
He said that the mining trenches and dumps are now moving closer to their homes.
“Whenever we approach the local DMR offices to do a follow-up we get excuses that either the relevant person is not available or he was replaced. We always get a new person who does not even have a clue about us or where Holpan is. It's always an official from outside the Province who we cannot find common ground with.
“We always have to start from scratch and never see any progress. The DMR never engages with the community or takes our grievances seriously,” said the frustrated resident.
The DMR did not respond to media enquiries by the time of publication.
