The Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources has resolved to undertake further engagements with relevant institutions following a briefing on a petition from the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) and its partners concerning mining accountability, capital flight and the abandonment of mining-affected communities.
The committee heard the petition during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, where MACUA and partners outlined concerns relating to the socio-economic and environmental consequences of mining operations and closures, corporate accountability, rehabilitation obligations and the impact of corporate disinvestment on mining-affected communities, especially Kriel in Mpumalanga and Jagersfontein in Free State.
The committee agreed that further information and responses should be obtained from relevant institutions whose roles and responsibilities were raised during the presentation. Some of the institutions involved are the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), Seriti Coal Proprietary Limited, Anglo American, and affected municipalities, among others.
The committee Chairperson Mr Mikateko Mahlaule said that the committee would prepare a report on the outcome of the meeting for consideration by the House Chairperson, who would then determine the appropriate parliamentary mechanism to take the matter forward.
“We will write a report based on this meeting for the House Chairperson to determine a way forward on whether a full inquiry should be conducted by this committee alone, by the Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings, or jointly between the two committees,” Mr Mahlaule said.
Mr Mahlaule further said that the committee would, in the immediate future, engage with the DMPR to establish the status of the review of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, as one of the issues raised by petitioners.
He noted that the review of the legislative framework presents an opportunity to consider whether existing provisions sufficiently address issues raised by mining-affected communities, including accountability, rehabilitation, mine closure, social and labour obligations and the protection of communities affected by mining activities.
Distribué par APO Group au nom de la République d'Afrique du Sud : Le Parlement.
