Illegal mining proliferates when the state fails to issue closure certificates and regulate compliance
/ 22 November 2024

Illegal mining proliferates when the state fails to issue closure certificates and regulate compliance

The problem has wide-ranging socio-economic and environmental impacts, says a draft mine closure strategy

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The hazardous legacy of Krugersdorp’s abandoned mines
/ 15 July 2024

The hazardous legacy of Krugersdorp’s abandoned mines

Experts say the government must fund acid mine drainage clean-ups to protect the right of citizens to a healthy environment and clean water

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Toxic acid mine water continues to rise underground on East Rand
/ 25 April 2024

Toxic acid mine water continues to rise underground on East Rand

The situation is frightening, says an anonymous source who used to work at the department of water and sanitation

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SA’s rivers and dams can no longer recover from pollution, say water scientists
/ 27 March 2024

SA’s rivers and dams can no longer recover from pollution, say water scientists

About seven billion litres of sewage are released every day into rivers and dams

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Witwatersrand goldfield acid mine drainage ‘with us for millennia’
/ 21 April 2023

Witwatersrand goldfield acid mine drainage ‘with us for millennia’

Quick fixes are inadequate to prevent damage from gold mining’s legacy, but the long-term plan of treating AMD could relieve water shortages

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Cradle of Humankind residents fear sinkholes, groundwater contamination from toxic acid mine drainage
/ 12 January 2023

Cradle of Humankind residents fear sinkholes, groundwater contamination from toxic acid mine drainage

Excessive rainfall last month has caused untreated toxic water from old gold mines to decant into waterways on the West Rand

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Long-awaited legislation seeks to strengthen SA’s environmental regime
/ 12 July 2022

Long-awaited legislation seeks to strengthen SA’s environmental regime

National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act introduce new offences, increase quantum of fines, extend enforcement powers to municipal managers

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Pumping of acidic mine water on East Rand delayed — again
/ 29 June 2022

Pumping of acidic mine water on East Rand delayed — again

The plant’s closure means that a tide of toxic mine water is rising significantly underground, which could decant into the environment within months

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Acid mine water continues to rise underground on the East Rand
/ 27 May 2022

Acid mine water continues to rise underground on the East Rand

Levels at a treatment plant in Springs have now breached a critical environmental threshold

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Deep concern over rising underground tide of toxic acidic mine water on East Rand
/ 29 April 2022

Deep concern over rising underground tide of toxic acidic mine water on East Rand

Broken abstraction pumps at the Eastern basin treatment plant mean that water supply may become contaminated, posing a serious threat

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‘My child would still be alive’ if that dam at the mine wasn’t there
/ 27 March 2022

‘My child would still be alive’ if that dam at the mine wasn’t there

The drowning of 10-year-old Mapula Raleholi is the latest in a series at mining sites in Gauteng

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Environment minister in crosshairs over proposed amendment to environmental regulations
/ 9 February 2022

Environment minister in crosshairs over proposed amendment to environmental regulations

The proposed change will make it impossible for civil society, or their lawyers, to appeal environmental authorisations without using the services of a costly environmental assessment practitioner

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West Rand: ‘These mine dumps are destroying us’
/ 5 June 2021

West Rand: ‘These mine dumps are destroying us’

Mining areas on the West Rand are ecologically dead because of poor rehabilitation

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Acid mine water a rising threat
/ 27 May 2021

Acid mine water a rising threat

About 360 tonnes of salts are dissolved in the Vaal River system every day

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