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Lance Greyling, the ID spokesperson for Mining says ‘the ID is appalled at the ongoing crisis at the Grootvlei Mine, in Springs on the East Rand.

‘We are demanding that legal action be taken against all the directors of Aurora Empowerment Systems and their advisors,' Mr Greyling says.

‘Noting media reports of apparent massive theft and fraud by Aurora advisors, aided by the directors, it is clear that Aurora, who gained the rights to operate the mine under very suspicious circumstances, has violated a raft of environmental laws and have treated the mineworkers in a disgusting manner.

‘Based on my own information, both the Departments of Mineral Resources and Water Affairs have failed to act on this issue and have allowed a human and environmental tragedy to develop,' says Greyling.

‘Many of the mineworkers have not been paid for months and those that have been paid have only been given part of what they are owed.

‘In addition, workers in the mine hostel - many of whom earn as little as R1 350 a month - are being forced to live in dehumanising conditions, with food, water and electricity all having been cut off at various times in the past month because bills had not been paid by Aurora,' Greyling says.

‘Environmentally this mine is a disaster. Based on my information it is failing to treat around 108 million litres a day of seriously contaminated water from its underground workings, which is simply discharged into the adjacent wetland, an internationally-renowned wildlife site.

‘This threatens downstream water users and agriculture. Although the mine is equipped with a treatment plant, management has failed to supply the requisite water treatment chemicals for a month now, and the contaminated water flows through the plant without being treated,' says Greyling.

‘This is in clear contravention of the Water Act and the mine's operating license and the directors of Aurora Empowerment Systems can and should be sent to jail for their negligence.

‘The Grootvlei pump station staff have been working unpaid to prevent massive contamination of the underground water on the East Rand and to prevent the loss of the mine due to flooding,' Greyling says.

‘Their sacrifice is appreciated by the ID, but they cannot continue to work without pay. Some have already been forced to leave their homes, evicted by landlords because they cannot pay rents and mortgages.

‘The ID is further concerned that the political connections of the Aurora directors are preventing the regulatory authorities from taking the necessary action against them. The ID therefore demands that immediate action is taken by Government to prevent this disaster from continuing,' says Greyling.

‘The ID hopes that the law will rapidly take its course and that all of those involved in this human and environmental catastrophe are brought to justice.'