City Press reported that the SA’s departments of water and environmental affairs have begun a probe into the illegal activities of an Mpumalanga coal mine that belongs to prominent businessman and national planning commission advisor Mr Cyril Ramaphosa.

The investigation into Shanduka Coal in Middelburg follows a raid last week initiated by deputy minister of defense Mr Thabang Makwetla, in his capacity as a parliamentarian responsible for the Middelburg constituency.

He has apparently received complaints since being Mpumalanga premier. Makwetla and his environmental affairs counterpart, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, led a team of Green and Blue Scorpions (environment and water inspectors) who found that the mine did not comply with government regulations on the environment and National Water Act. The mine does not have a water use licence or hazardous waste management policy. It also mines on both sides of the R 555 road between Witbank and Middelburg, polluting the road. A conveyer belt has been installed over the road to transport coal between the mine’s two plants after it extended its operations to the other side of the road.

Mabudafhasi's spokesperson, Mr Peter Mbelengwa, said the inspectors were compiling a report that will guide the department on the next course of action against Shanduka Coal.

Mr Bheki Khumalo, spokesperson for the department of mineral resources, said that "Their findings will tell us what action to take. The mine management however agreed that they didn’t comply."

Shanduka was issued a mining licence but thereafter had to apply for other licenses, and therefore a matter for the department of environmental affairs. Shanduka spokesperson Mr Maureen Mphatsoe said Shanduka has requested to meet both deputy ministers. He added that "We want to understand their concerns first, and if needs be we will appoint a consultant to look into those issues. We’re waiting for a date from the deputy ministers."

Mr Makwetla said that his attention was first attracted to the mine in 2007. He added that "The mine was designed in such a way that it did not have an access road. They just opened a gate into the main road. Mining caused a spill over of dust onto the main road which got worse when they started mining on both sides. It was clear to me there were serious environmental issues for motorists and the nearby community."

(Sourced from City Press)