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Reference: 2/1/5/1
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: QUESTION 2976 FOR WRITTEN REPLY
A draft reply to the above mentioned question asked by Mrs H N Ndude (Cope)
is attached for your consideration.
ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 2976
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23 SEPTEMBER 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 30)
2976. Mrs H N Ndude to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether her department has given mines a directive with regard
to acid mine drainage (AMD); if not, what is the position in
this regard; if so, (a) what is the current directive that has
been given to mines regarding AMD and (b) which mines have not
complied with the said directive
(2) whether her department intends to issue a new directive to mines
regarding their role in AMD; if not, why not; if so, what will
the new directive include? NW3453E
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REPLY:
1) No, since May 2010, none of the Witwatersrand mines have been
issued with any directives in respect of Acid Mine Drainage
(AMD). The Department is instead working closely with the
existing mines to achieve specific short-term interventions
including, among others, the use of existing mine water
treatment plants for the management of AMD in the area.
(1)(a) Falls away.
(1)(b) Falls away.
(2) Yes, the Department intends to invoke sections 19 and 20 notices
in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) that
will direct defunct and existing Witwatersrand mines to
participate in AMD management solutions. Through the Trans-
Caledon Tunnel Authority (currently acting as an implementing
agent for the short-term AMD management solution), depending on
the outcome of work being done and conclusion of investigation
of solutions that may be used, the mines may be issued with
directives that will require them to contribute towards the
costs of the implementation of the short-term solution.
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