Page 7 - Our Land

OUR LAND 7

LIFE FROM STONE Moses Wild and Fahrana Dawson sift sand to find diamonds illegal diamond mining, which benefits only
‘‘ those extracting the minerals at a fraction of
those who illegally purchase the produce of

the real value.”
MAKING IT POSSIBLE
Klopper said the company had to sacrifice
I can still
He said the resources in question were,
remember that some of its resources to make the deal possible.
however, not critical to the operation of the
day. It was around mine and did not present a significant financial
impact.
11am when I felt “Any financial losses are more than offset by
the decreased cost of maintenance and security
the stone [diamond] due to the resolution of the conflict between
the company and illegal miners. Past illegal
in my hand. mining has always been a distraction from our
core legal mining activities that has required
Since then, I’ve directing of non-critical resources and related
costs to maintain an acceptable security
never forgotten standard around the legal operating areas.
“Security remains a high priority for
that feeling. normalised operations and will have to remain
It’s like my in place, preventing splinter groups and
A SPARKLE IN THE DUST Artisanal miners have staked their claims to legally search individuals from opportunistic ground or
ancestors visited for the valuable stones property theft and damage.”
Klopper said the specific solution that was
me in my sleep. If found a diamond worth R200, but I’m not going Gert Klopper, spokesperson for Petra captured by the agreement was probably
to give up. This is going to be my life.” Diamonds, a partner in the Kimberley Ekapa unique to Kimberley.
you know that Another miner, Obakeng Monyera, says not Mining joint venture through its Crown “Kimberley being the only place where the
feeling, then you’d enough is being done by government to Resources subsidiary, said the company was ‘flooring’ system, that is where kimberlite rock
was left on flat areas to weather before
pleased it could be part of legitimising artisanal
support their cause and added that government
know what I’m needs to provide equipment for miners. mining. processing, was used. Although the principle
“We need grinders to be able to do our jobs “We have always believed, and have for some might apply elsewhere, the details might be
talking about. properly. We also want government to deal time been making proposals in this regard, that significantly different.”
with this new trend of companies who come there is space in the diamond mining industry He said the company had been contacted by
That’s how I feel here to collect soil under the pretence of for artisanal miners who are better positioned several industry players and legal advisers to
recycling it somewhere, but we know they are to exploit resources that are non-critical and/or share the nature and success of the legalisation
every time I get a looking for the stones. marginal to the bigger operators, providing transaction.
“Other zama-zamas in the country also need
Meanwhile, for miners such as Taku and
stone. I feel the something like this. Government needs to their activities are regulated and fall within the Dawson, the deal means they can use the land
legal framework for mining in South Africa.
spirits of ancestors reclaim our land so we can feed our families “Such artisanal mining makes a real legally to build a future for their families and
because we are unemployed.” socioeconomic contribution, in contrast with be part of the economy.