Herman Mashaba, the President of ActionSA, believes the Johannesburg CBD explosion was inevitable due to the city’s ailing infrastructure and illegal miners operating beneath it.
While Mashaba is grateful the explosion’s impact was less severe than it could have been, he expresses concern about the possibility of a much larger tragedy with similar circumstances occurring in the future. He attributes this potential risk to the city’s deteriorating infrastructure and the rampant involvement of criminal elements.
“I raised this matter already in 2017 or 2018. Things have gotten worse in terms of what is happening in our country with these Zama-Zamas. They’ve intensified their efforts with complete impunity. But making matters worse, there are two other factors that I personally believe are putting our lives and our country at risk. We have slowed down on repairs and maintenance and the building of new infrastructure. We are allowing criminal elements to daily strip our infrastructure anywhere … It doesn’t matter whether it’s on the bridges, on electrical poles or whatever.”
Reports indicate a gas leak beneath the surface caused the explosion. Though the investigation is ongoing, it is challenging to disregard the potential connection between the event and the presence of illegal miners.
The Activity of Illegal Miners
In 2018, reports raised concerns about the perilous activities of illegal miners, highlighting they were conducting blasting operations perilously close to highly flammable gas and fuel lines beneath the Johannesburg CBD. According to Masahaba, their activities have only intensified since then.
During his tenure as Mayor of Johannesburg, Mashaba disclosed, he had sent letters to both the Department of Minerals and Resources and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, warning them about the situation. Regrettably, his letters went unanswered, and the illegal miners continued their operations without interruption.
“In 2017-18, when this matter was brought to my attention by Sasol and Transnet, where the Zama-Zamas were using very dangerous explosives. They didn’t know what they were doing next to the gas and petrol pipes … What if one day at FNB stadium with 80 000 or 90 000 people in the stadium and something happened? That tragedy would be something that the world will never forget … I can confirm that the Department of Minerals and Energy is responsible for mining. Up to date, they’ve never even acknowledged or received my letter.”
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Is the Answer Stricter Law Enforcement?
According to Mashaba, the government’s failure to enforce the law against criminal activity has contributed to the growing lawlessness in our country. This lack of punishment has emboldened criminals within civil society and politics to continue wreaking havoc on essential infrastructures crucial to South African society.
“The infrastructure of South Africa is under attack. I keep from time to time, even now when I’m no longer a mayor, questioning our Parliament. Why are you not passing laws to punish those criminal elements who are destroying our infrastructure? [They should] treat this as treason because, unfortunately, South Africa is sitting on a time bomb.”
If the fragile state of SA’s infrastructures arenot promptly addressed, either through repair or comprehensive refurbishment, the lives of South Africans will remain in jeopardy. Therefore, it is crucial for the powers that be take urgent action to ensure the safety and well-being of the population.
