Gold dreams spark illegal digging in Springs, amid complex process to legally prospect

Police in Ekurhuleni have been deployed to an area near the Gugulethu informal settlement in Springs following reports of illegal mining.

Rumours abound in the area that someone has discovered untapped gold near the surface on a private plot of land.

According to EWN reporter Nokukhanyo Mntambo, what would be a cattle kraal has now turned into a mini mine. It costs R20 for entry. The plot is the size of two soccer fields.

ALSO READ: Locals from Springs informal settlement continue to dig for gold deposits

Peter Major, a mining analyst at Modern Corporate, explains the procedure to be followed if gold is discovered.

"The right process, when the Mineral Resource Development Act was originally launched in 2004, the intent was you had to apply to the Department to prospect a designated area."

Major says the process is complex; applying to get a prospect licence can take up to a year.

"Say you found a shiny rock on your property. You wanna keep it quiet, but you want to get that permit as soon as possible. So, you can imagine if it takes you more than a year to get it, you're gonna start digging anyway, because you're afraid, if I don't dig, somebody else will put in an application."

Given the time it takes to obtain a licence, Major says he's confident that what is currently taking place in Springs is illegal.

"Any law that takes too much effort to obey and yet takes very little effort to get around gets abused."

Add to that the socio-economic realities of many of the so-called zama zamas.

Illegal mining has become an increasing concern across parts of the country.

Last year, over 60 bodies were retrieved from a shaft at the Buffelsfontein gold mine, which had become a populated illegal mining site.

And in Sporong, recently over 600 residents were forced to flee their homes due to crime linked to illegal mining.

The city said the matter has been escalated to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, which handles mining regulation and criminal investigations.

The decision to send in the military to help police fight illegal mining was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Nation Address last week.

To listen to Major in conversation with 702/CapeTalk's Aubrey Masango, use the audio player below: