These two township are in the Eastrand now called Ekurhuleni in South Africa.Eastrand is one of the areas which was crowded by mines before, and the are still operating in this area.
The problem we are facing now, The mines that are no more in operation but the damage they have left still live the commuties.Vlakfontein mine near Kwa thema which is no more in operation, left mine shaft 5 in Kwa thema in the Interland section near the graveyard which lot of people pass by going different placees and is close to Phulong high school. the shaft is not secured, no warning signs and is not fenced.
Inspecting the shaft we find that ,it has holes in it, sometimes its full of water after the rain, One cannot see how deep are holes.The danger we are facing, is children can go and play in there and fall in the hole drown and die there.Speaking to the families staying near the shaft. Aflred and Thoko Mokoena, indicated that the are few children who got injured in the shaft. the current state parents make sure that they kids dont go to that place,Thoko indicated that most of the time the are at work so anything can happen.I ask if the commuty around raised any corcern about the shaft. she said people mind they own busines as well as they kids. the second family i spoke to. the family of Zinhle Mthembu. The shaft is used by thugs in the evening when people are from work or even passerby, the place is very dark at night any thing can happen without being seen. the second problem is the kids they play in shaft get injured but the commuty around is not united to fight the problem. I went to the ward coucil Temi Dladla. I was told to write a letter of appointment, which i did. the meeting took place on tuesday morning 26 2011.We spoke about the the problem. she said that she will take the matter to the board as soon as it sits and took my details for discusions and feed back
Paynviile
The councillor of paynville,Thabo Maseko was available to talk with me.Paynviile is having a shaft no12, its not secured and no warning signs around for the people to know. Mr Maseko indicated that the shaft is a big problem because lot of poeple have since disapeard without any trace and the cases are with the police, They are not sure that people disapeard on the shaft or not, but the shaft is deep.He indictaed that mines like Aurora are not coplying with the moning works programme and copliance with the environmental management programme. Maseko said he place the blame on the doorstep of the Department of mineral resources (Susan Shabangu).
The second problem of the shaft is that the water from the ground is full is having acid, the water now flows to Blesbokspruit polluting the water as well. We decided to call East rand water care company(ERWAT) for possible meeting with them, the reception took Maseko details they will come back to him. Secodly i ask him to try and cornven a meeting with the Mayor that will include Temi Dladla on the issue of these shafts.
The Goverment must make sure with the existing operating Mines, that this does not happen in the future auding the compliance of Environmental managent programme, because of severe environmetal degradation. The results of this, poor commuties are the one who suffers.
The matter will go on until something is done. Save our poor commuties by involving yourself.
MESHACK MBANGULA
KWA THEMA MONITORS
KWA THEMA ENVIRONMENTAL ORG
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