The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy will, from August 24, embark on a four-day oversight visit to illegal mining hotspots in North West and Gauteng at the old Scot mine in Klerksdorp; Batlhako, and Ruighoek mines in Witrantjies Village outside Rustenburg; and Riverlea, in Gauteng.

The committee is conducting these oversight visits to follow up on the recommendations of the joint oversight visit on illegal mining report, which was adopted by the National Assembly (NA) in November 2022.

Some of the recommendations call upon the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and demolish disused shafts at the old Scot mine, and with the North West DMRE regional office to collaborate with the South African Police Services (Saps) in the province to fight illegal mining.

Firstly, the committee will be briefed on the progress report in relation to the recommendations and commitments made during the previous joint oversight visit by the Mineral Resources and Energy, Home Affairs and Police portfolio committees.

It will then conduct an inspection in loco at the old Scot mine, where the DMRE North West regional office undertook to demolish and rehabilitate disused mine shafts by January.

On August 25, the committee will visit the Witrantjies Village where illegal mining of chrome is said to be taking place at an industrial scale.       

On August 26, the committee will be in Gauteng to engage with the DMRE, Saps and communities affected by illegal mining in Riverlea. This comes in the wake of the recent shootouts between rival groups of illegal miners and subsequent protests by community members.

The committee will then have an opportunity to follow up on the DMRE’s commitment to close all derelict open mine shafts in Riverlea by the end of September.

It will also embark on a walkabout at various illegal mining sites in Riverlea.

On August 27, the committee will be briefed by government departments on progress regarding various issues related to illegal mining, including an update on illegal mining in the whole of South Africa, a progress report on addressing the illegal mining value chain, an update on engagements with the Southern African Development Community, as well as progress on implementation of the NA’s recommendation as listed in the joint oversight visit on illegal mining report.

Departments that are expected to brief the committee are DMRE, the Department of Police, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Justice and Correctional Services and the National Treasury.