SA’s 400 abandoned coal mines a risk to surrounding areas, says Human Rights Watch

The Human Rights Watch has released a report that shows that South Africa has about 400 abandoned coal mines, which poses huge health and safety risks to the communities that surround them.

The report says that the country, which relies on coal for 80% of its energy production, has failed to clean these mines up, resulting in dangers to residents around these mines such as water contamination and dangerous unrestricted open mines.

Human Rights Watch’s Vuyisile Ncube says despite it not being a legal requirement for the government to clean abandoned mines up prior to 2002, right now there is legislation that makes it mandatory for mining companies to set aside financial provisions before they begin their mining operations.

Vuyisile Ncube, Finberg fellow at the Environment and Human Rights Division – Human Rights Watch:

What usually happens is because local government does not review this financial provision annually, and because they don’t hold companies accountable, by the time the mine has reached its end of life, that financial provision ends up being insufficient to do proper clean up.

Ncube goes on to say that though companies are responsible for cleaning up dead mines, it is the government’s responsibility to hold these companies responsible.

-EWN

In other news – Actress Nothando Ngcobo (Hlelo) on men hitting on her, Uzalo role & her goals

Uzalo actress Nothando Ngcobo said her big wish is to land a job as a TV presenter. She said her future ambition makes her ignore the love proposals from men who want to go out with her.

“I’m still young in the industry and have big dreams I don’t want to lose focus that’s why I ignore all the inboxes on social media of men who want to go out with me,” said Nothando. She said her fame, which she gained from playing Hlelo on Uzalo, has attracted attention from men. Learn More