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Zama Zamas in Mogale City Expose Critical Water Infrastructure Vulnerability

Published

9 months ago

August 10, 2023

Zama zamas in Mogale City, known for its history as a mining town, have inadvertently revealed a concerning threat to the city’s water supply. EWN reports that these illegal miners, who continue to search for gold in the area’s abandoned mines, have exposed a significant underground bulk water supply pipe. The potential damage to this pipe could lead to widespread water shortages affecting the entire city.

Mogale City, located in the West Rand, is rooted in the Witwatersrand basin’s gold rush of the late 1800s. However, illegal mining activities persist today, jeopardising residents’ safety and critical infrastructure.

Recently, Eyewitness News explored an area on the outskirts of Krugersdorp where small-scale illegal mining occurs. There were deep tunnels, gold-purifying equipment, and bags of sand. The team also found a damaged underground water pipe, which created a potentially hazardous situation.

Mark Trump, the Strategic and Tactical Operations Response Management (Storm) committee chairperson in Mogale City, highlighted the dangerous implications of the exposed water pipe. He stressed that the pipe, a main feed for the city’s reservoirs, should not be exposed due to the high pressure it operates under.

Also read: JMPD Takes Action: Shacks Belonging to Zama Zamas Demolished at Zamimpilo Informal Settlement

The gravity of the situation prompted Rand Water to conduct an oversight inspection of the exposed pipe. Efforts are underway to safeguard the pipe from further harm.

Businesses in Mogale City have faced the repercussions of illegal mining in a separate development. Businesses spent over R250,000 to repair a road damaged by tunnels dug beneath it by zama zamas. These illegal miners exploit valuable gold-bearing material beneath Windsor Road, negatively impacting local commerce.

Residents from an informal settlement near an abandoned gold mine have also suffered the effects of zama zama activities. The Plastic View informal settlement in Krugersdorp has reported regular assaults, harassment, and exploitation by these illegal miners.

The Mogale City municipality has contacted the national police for assistance, acknowledging its limitations in handling the zama zama issue. The municipality’s executive mayor has called on relevant government entities to collaborate and swiftly address this growing concern.

As Mogale City grapples with the ongoing challenges posed by zama zamas, efforts to protect residents’ safety and vital infrastructure remain paramount.

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