Communities in Mpumalanga Lowveld ‘live in fear’ of illegal miners
Illegal miners are having a devastating impact on the lowveld in Mpumalanga.
Picture: Mulderphoto/123rf
Pippa Hudson speaks with Carte Blanche producer Graham Coetzer
Listen below.
Entire hillsides in the Mpumalanga Lowveld are peppered with illegal mining shafts.
The communities have been terrorised by illegal miners or Zama Zamas who have taken over much of the land.
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“It is a really sad part of the story to see how people live in fear there.”
- Graham Coetzer, Carte Blanche producer
According to Coetzer, the problems arise when organised crime syndicates take over abandoned mines.
Small plantations are being undermined and the water supply to farms is polluted.
Landowners claim they cannot access part of their land because it has been occupied.
Coetzer received a tip-off about challenges in the area but found it was much worse than he expected upon arrival.
“After covering illegal mining stories for 10 or 15 years even I was surprised with what we found down in the Lowveld.”
- Graham Coetzer, Carte Blanche producer
He says the chemicals used by Zama Zamas have a devastating environmental impact.
“It is absolutely destroying one of the most beautiful natural parts of the country.”
- Graham Coetzer, Carte Blanche producer
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.