Law enforcement steps in at KZN illegal mining site

Sihle Zikalala, KZN premier

The call follows a report on the outcomes of investigations by a team of experts from the Geoscience Council, which revealed that the stones discovered in KwaHlathi are not diamonds but quartz crystals.

South African "diamond rush" unearths only quartz crystals, officials say

Emma Rumney  21 Jun 2021

During its ordinary sitting on Wednesday, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Council expressed its concerns about reports that illegal mining is still continuing in the area.

KwaZulu-Natal premier, Sihle Zikalala, who was chairing the meeting, said the executive council expressed its concerns that the crowds in KwaHlathi are in violation of the country’s mining laws and flouting Covid-19 regulations.

The executive council also expressed its concerns at the recent steep rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the UThukela District, probably due to the influx of people into the area.

“Government is also concerned that school children are spending time at the illegal mine instead of being at school. There is concern over the long-term environmental degradation, which may lead to flooding in future.

“The provincial government appeals to everyone still involved in illegal mining in KwaHlathi to vacate the site today [Wednesday]. From tomorrow, law enforcement will kick in and whoever remains will face the full might of the law,” Zikalala said.

He said the site will remain cordoned off and inaccessible to members of the public and without permission.