By Salomé Kotzé
Klerksdorp Record, Orkney - Residents of Orkney are not impressed with CAPM’s plans to develop a new mine shaft “basically on our doorstep’’.
At a meeting held on Thursday November 23 Soekie Swanepoel said she is not planning to sit on her doorstep and look at a mine in front of her house. She was especially concerned about the impact that mining in the area in such a close proximity to several neighbourhoods, could have on residents’ health.
Plans by China Africa Precious Minerals (CAPM) to sink a new decline and re-develop an existing shaft at the Orkney Winze only became known this month when a notice was put up at the site inviting the community to a consultation meeting about the proposed project.
The meeting got off on a sour note when the consulting firm tasked with the environmental impact study, booked a boardroom for 20 people. Joan Consulting, a Johannesburg firm, was tasked by CAPM to compile the scoping report. Close to 80 people pitched for the meeting and more chairs had to be brought in. This did not sit well with those in attendance.
“This is typical of a company not really wanting to consult with the public. The fact that the meeting was organised for only 20 seats showed to me that they did not really want any public participation. The company doing the scoping is not local and thus is not knowledgeable of all the details which would comprise mining so close to residential areas,’’ said Armand Botha.
At the meeting he also voiced his concern on the effect blasting could have on houses in town and questioned the safety of having nitrate explosives “on our doorstep’’.
Local attorney Piet Scholtz told the consultants that they can expect “aggressive objection” from the community. He added that CAPM is “arrogant’’ to think they could start mining in June 2024 when the consultation only just started.
The meeting was informed that no mining could be started unless an environmental authorisation is granted. The area borders Lourenspark and is well known as the space where illegal miners use the ventilation shaft to get access underground. It is also notorious as a Zama-Zama war zone and considered to be very dangerous for members of the public.
Several of the men in attendance, some retired miners who have stayed in Orkney all their lives, asked why CAPM suddenly wanted to mine in that area. “Did the Zama-Zamas give you advice to come and work here,’’ one of the men asked.
Scholtz also asked why “after all these years’’ to start mining in that spot. Another said that there is another access point to the shaft and that CAPM didn’t need to sink a new shaft.
Solly Molefe was interested in who will monitor the mine and be held accountable if things go wrong. “They promise jobs but fail to deliver on their promises. We don’t trust them.’’
Jannette Bekker agreed saying that “they will go back to China, and leave Orkney to pick up the pieces once again. Like we’ve done before.’’
Chris Bester, the ward councillor, said that mining is not feasible in the area and that the bio diversity of the area as well as the heritage be considered. “The old Orkney Wince is one of the first places where gold was mined in the province.’’
More attendees were concerned about the effect of acid mine drainage will have on the existing water table as well as agricultural land. There were also concerns that the mine will drain existing boreholes and pollute groundwater. The project will have direct socio-economic impact of the community in terms of the noise, the ambient noise, the visual impacts and the market value of their houses.
The Draft Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment Report is available for comments at the Matlosana Municipality.
History
The Orkney mine has a chequered history. The seven shafts that constitute the mine initially formed part of the Anglo American Vaal Reef Operation. The ownership of the shafts then changed to African Rainbow Minerals (ARM). In October 2003, ARM merged with Harmony Gold and the mine’s name changed to the Harmony Orkney operation. Pamodzi Gold bought the operations from Harmony Gold in March of 2008, however Pamodzi was provisionally liquidated in March of 2009 and final liquidation was granted in October 2009. In late 2009, Aurora Empowerment Systems took over management of the Orkney operations. The operations remained dormant until 2011, when Pamodzi Gold entered into a sales agreement with CAPM in August 2011. CAPM bought the mine out of liquidation for R150-million in 2011.
