The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and its Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate, ordered a suspension of blasting operations at the Tharisa Mine, near Marikana in the North West province of South Africa.
This follows multiple complaints about blasting within 500 meters of homes.
Affected communities are the Mmaditlhokwa, Lapologang, and Marikana West.
But Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) has attributed the suspension of blasting operations at Tharisa Mine by the Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate, as a delayed response to long-standing, well- documented community harm.
The mining union also said the blasting did not stop due to a sudden regulatory intervention.
MACUA’s Sabelo Mnguni, said “for years, the Maditlhokwa community has consistently raised serious concerns about unsafe blasting practices, environmental contamination, exclusion from decision-making and the intimidation of community activists.”
He also said there is evidence mining operations have occurred as close as 300 meters from homes, with direct impacts from blasting, including dust and flying rocks reaching the community.
This is documented in a Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate report (June 2024).
Picture: Supplied