Note to Editors: Please note Hannah Lidgett, MPL sound bite in English
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has written (view here) to MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), Reverend Musa Zondi, demanding immediate action against rampant illegal sandmining taking place across the province.
Illegal sandmining has become a highly lucrative criminal enterprise, with loads allegedly fetching up to R5 000 per truck. This sand is sold to construction companies, allegedly without tax compliance or environmental authorisation, strongly indicating the involvement of organised syndicates operating throughout KZN.
The DA has conducted oversight inspections at the Valley of a Thousand Hills and along multiple sites on the Umhlanga River, where the environmental destruction is severe.
In the Valley of a Thousand Hills, entire hillsides are being levelled (view here and here), creating dangerously unstable terrain that poses a serious risk of landslides during heavy rainfall. This destruction is also harming tourism, as businesses overlooking the area are witnessing the loss of the natural landscapes that attract visitors.
At the Umhlanga River, riverbanks are being carved away in broad daylight (view here), and in some instances, miners are dredging directly within the river. Sections of the river have been dammed, rerouted and obstructed, significantly increasing the risk of flash flooding for downstream communities.
A subsequent inspection by the national Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy and regional officials resulted in commitments to intervene at both sites. Regrettably, no meaningful action has followed.
Repeated attempts by the DA to secure accountability have seen departments shift responsibility between one another. Despite ongoing assurances that enforcement teams would be deployed, there has been no visible change on the ground.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has also failed to intervene effectively, citing jurisdictional uncertainty or inaction, allowing illegal operations to continue unchecked.
KZN is being carved up at an unprecedented scale, with minimal oversight and growing risks to communities, while criminal operators continue to generate millions. The DA calls on MEC Zondi to urgently coordinate a multi-departmental intervention involving Environmental Affairs, Mineral Resources, SAPS and municipalities to:
• Immediately halt all illegal sandmining activities at identified sites;
• Deploy enforcement teams to secure affected areas;
• Conduct environmental impact assessments and implement rehabilitation plans;
• Investigate and dismantle organised syndicates involved; and
• Ensure criminal prosecution of those responsible.
As a partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity, the DA will continue to apply pressure until decisive action is taken. The province’s natural heritage, tourism economy and community safety cannot be sacrificed to criminal greed.