The opinion piece by concerned citizen from Georginia: “Why should we expect a different outcome this time?” which appeared in the Roodepoort Record on 18 August 2018 refers.
The statements made by the author are erroneous and misleading.
West Wits has held a Prospecting Right since 2006 and in 2016 received a Directive from the DMR to remediate. West Wits does not use explosives and therefore does not blast. West Wits uses Xcentric rippers, which are less disruptive and therefore ‘scars to homes’ would not be repeated. The open-cast mining that occurred during the 80s may have involved blasting.
None of the West Wits directors were previously “directors of mines in the neighbourhood” as alleged. West Wits director, Niel Pretorius, started working for DRD Gold South African operations in 2006, at a time when the DRD mines in the area had already closed. Therefore, West Wits’ directors had no involvement in activities prior to 2006 in the area.
West Wits is continuously cleaning up and rehabilitating the area as remediation is under way. This will improve the area by removing access points for illegal miners, and reducing dumping and illegal occupation of land. The community always wanted the area to be cleaned up and rehabilitated, and this is what we are currently doing.
While roads, power lines and main roads are frequently constructed and used in connection with mining operations, West Wits’ understanding is that the restriction on 500m relates to tailings dams. No West Wits ore is processed in the area; all product is transported to the processing plant over 40kms away.
The scoping report does differ from what was disclosed in the first round of public meetings held in March 2018 as West Wits re-lodged the Mining Right Application in July 2018. Therefore, a second round of public meetings were held in August 2018 to communicate this. West Wits is compliant with all the listing and operating requirements and endeavours to provide continuous disclosure to all stakeholders and communities.
