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Is he saying “artisanal” miners should be allowed to mine at will, without any of the health, safety or environmental responsibilities imposed on formal mining companies?
And when these informal miners die, who is responsible? Who cleans up the environment once they move on? At what point does artisanal mining end and formal mining commence? Why impose draconian standards on formal mining if a free-for-all is allowed in the informal sector?
Mining is not a harmless activity. The term artisanal is an attempt to normalise a crude, dangerous and criminal activity. How about artisanal metal collectors, stripping infrastructure?Artisanal waste collectors leaving environmental destruction in their wake.
Do we have laws or don’t we? Do we impose standards or not? Either way, just apply and enforce the law.
Michael Blain Via BusinessLIVE
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
LETTER: Artisanal mining confusion
Christopher Rutledge’s article refers (“Mantashe’s high-stakes chess game is risking life and limb”, November 20).
Is he saying “artisanal” miners should be allowed to mine at will, without any of the health, safety or environmental responsibilities imposed on formal mining companies?
And when these informal miners die, who is responsible? Who cleans up the environment once they move on? At what point does artisanal mining end and formal mining commence? Why impose draconian standards on formal mining if a free-for-all is allowed in the informal sector?
Mining is not a harmless activity. The term artisanal is an attempt to normalise a crude, dangerous and criminal activity. How about artisanal metal collectors, stripping infrastructure? Artisanal waste collectors leaving environmental destruction in their wake.
Do we have laws or don’t we? Do we impose standards or not? Either way, just apply and enforce the law.
Michael Blain
Via BusinessLIVE
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
CHRISTOPHER RUTLEDGE: Mantashe’s high-stakes chess game is risking life and limb
EDITORIAL: Zama-zama issue cuts deep into multiple failings
LETTER: Legalise artisanal mining
Ghana’s wildcat gold mining booms, poisoning people and nature
More than 70 killed in Mali artisanal gold mine collapse
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Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.