2022 Artisanal Mining Policy Insufficient To Tackle Illegal Mining
The 2022 Policy on Artisanal and Small Scale Mining is insufficient to deal with the scourge of illegal mining . This is the view of some MPs on Parliaments Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
Shortly after the beginning of operation Vala Umgodi at Stilfontein, Minister Gwede Mantashe and top officials of his department appeared before Parliament on the 19th of November last year.
They told MPs about the challenges of equipping small-scale and artisanal miners - challenges in curbing illegal mining, and legislation on the scourge.
The Department of Mineral Resources said the policy was gazetted in 2022 to regulate artisanal and small-scale mining. The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 did not cover this sector.
However, estimates are that there are between 30 000 and 50 000 artisanal miners, and the department explained that it wants to bring this sector into the mainstream economy.