Dying diggers of Namaqualand need saving
24 Oktober 2018
Vrystelling: Onmiddellik
Die Demokratiese Alliansie (DA) in die Noord-Kaap doen ‘n beroep op die regering om die formalisering van die onwettige diamantbedryf in Namakwaland te bespoedig ten einde die werkskeppende potensiaal van kleinskaal mynbou te bewerkstellig, asook om onwettige delwers en omliggende gemeenskappe te beskerm.
Die DA is teleurgestseld dat die regering twee maande na die dood van twee onwettige mynwerkers by Kleinsee nog nie genoeg gedoen het om volhoubare oplossings vir die onwettige diamanthandel langs die Weskus te vind nie.
Trouens, stel honderde desperate delwers hul lewens daagliks in gevaar, terwyl hulle in tonnels werk om sakke gruis uit die aarde te trek. Hulle en die plaaslike ekonomie verloor ook wins, aangesien hierdie diamante op die swartmark verkoop word en delwers baat dus net met ‘n fraksie van die werklike geldwaarde van die diamante. Terselfdertyd voel gemeenskapslede bedreig deur die onwettige aktiwiteite in die gemeenskap.
Die situasie kan nie toegelaat word om voort te gaan soos dit is nie.
Die regering is te stil oor die saak en daar is groot verwarring in Namakwaland oor wat die Departement van Minerale en Hulpbronne ten opsigte hiervan doen en nie doen nie. Terselfdertyd draai mynmaatskappye doelbewus ‘n blinde oog op die onwettige mynbou-aktiwiteit op hul grond en dra geen verantwoordelikheid vir sekuriteit of die veiligheid van die onwettige delwers wat hulle stilweg duld nie.
As die regering regtig omgee vir die mense van Namakwaland, sal dit nie tyd mors om die gesprekke met myneienaars te finaliseer nie ten einde wedersyds voordelige transaksies te tref wat nie net die uitreiking van permitte behels nie, maar ook sal toesien dat daar aan delwers grond allokeer word waarop hulle kan myn. Veiligheidsbeamptes moet dan ook aangestel word om die risiko’s te verminder.
Dit is tog nie te veel om te vra nie. ‘n Soortgelyke ooreenkoms is vroeër vanjaar in Kimberley verkry.
Armoede en werkloosheid in Namakwaland, soos in die res van die land, is baie hoog en die mense van Namakwaland ly daaronder. Dit vereis dat die regering en die privaatsektor saamwerk om te verseker dat ons mense ‘n blink toekoms het.
Slegs verandering onder ‘n DA-geleide regering sal verseker dat onwettige delwery omskep word in ‘n lewendige kleinskaalse mynbedryf in Namakwaland wat al ons mense sal bevoordeel.
Artisanal mining can open access to opportunities and jobs in NC
23 October 2018
Release: Immediate
The DA is calling on government to speed up the formalisation of the illegal diamond industry in Namaqualand in order to harness the job-creating potential of artisanal mining as well as to safeguard illegal diggers and surrounding communities.
The DA is deeply aggrieved that, two months after the deaths of two illegal miners at Kleinsee, government has still not done enough to find sustainable solutions to the illicit diamond trade along the West Coast.
In effect, hundreds of desperate diggers continue to risk their lives on a daily basis, as they scale makeshift tunnels to pull bags full of gravel from the earth. They, and the local economy, also lose out on profits, as they trade their diamonds on the black market, earning only a fraction of the real value. At the same time, community members feel threatened by the illegal activity on their doorsteps.
The situation cannot be allowed to continue as is.
Government is too quiet on the matter and there is great confusion in Namaqualand about what the Department of Minerals and Resources is and isn’t doing. At the same time, mining companies are wilfully turning a blind eye to the mining activity on its land, taking no responsibility for security or the safety of the diggers whom they are tacitly tolerating.
If government really cares about the people of Namaqualand, it will waste no time in finalising talks with mine owners, to strike mutually beneficial deals that will not only see diggers acquire permits but will also see the artisanal miners being allocated land on which they can mine. Safety reps then also need to be appointed to minimize the risks.
Surely this is not too much to ask. A similar deal was garnered in Kimberley earlier this year.
Poverty and joblessness in Namaqualand, like in the rest of the country, is at an all time high and the people of Namaqualand are suffering. It requires all sectors, both public and private, to work together to ensure that our people have a bright future.
Only change under a DA-led government will ensure that illegal digging is transformed into a vibrant artisanal mining industry in Namaqualand that will benefit all our people.
Queries:
Andrew Louw
DA Northern Cape Premier Candidate
082 383 6914
Shelley De Witt
Researcher
082 847 1387
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