Photo by: Megan Wait
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Trade union Uasa is satisfied with the level of attention South Africa’s water challenges are receiving from Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa and Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu.
On Friday, acid mine drainage (AMD) pumps were inserted by the Department of Water Affairs at the Central basin pump station, in Germiston. These pumps would ensure that the AMD in the area would remain below the environmental critical level, Uasa spokesperson Andre Venter said in a statement on Friday.
He also noted that last week Shabangu announced the consolidation of all mining licence requirements into one procedure, shortening the period to issue mining licences – which would henceforth also include a water license – to not more than 300 days from the date of application.
Uasa believed a successful application lodged in 2010 by the union to the National Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) to embark on protest action in terms of Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act, regarding the state of water security in South Africa, and its water research, created awareness that “spurred government into action”.
Uasa’s research, conducted through water security seminars, highlighted the devastating effects of AMD and other water-related problems, as well as the apparent delays by government to address the pending crisis.
“Our application to Nedlac highlighted the need for greater integration and cooperation between government departments to effectively address our water challenges,” Venter said.
He pointed out, however, that owing to this month’s heavy rainfall AMD spills had once again occurred in the Western basin of the Witwatersrand, but that, water pumping and treatment was expected to normalise once the rains came to an end.