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The Democratic Alliance (DA) expresses its deepest condolences to the family of Dustin Kukari, who tragically lost his life in yet another fatal incident at the Witherow Dam Quarry in Heidedal. Following this heart-wrenching event, Community Leader, Gregory Werner has written to the Human Rights Commission, urgently appealing for their intervention to prevent any more lives from being lost.

On 19 April 2023, the DA corresponded with the MEC and HOD of CoGTA in the Free State, raising concerns about the Quarry. According to previous responses received from the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy in the National Council of Provinces, the rehabilitation of the site was completed and a closure certificate was issued by the Department on 06 December 2006, signifying compliance with all closure requirements at the time. This has clearly not been the reality on the ground following several deaths at the quarry. The deaths have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the closure certificate and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance of closed mining sites. It is important for authorities to investigate and address any potential safety hazards at the quarry to prevent further tragedies.

DA Provincial Leader, Dr Roy Jankielsohn, on 31 May 2023, thus posed crucial questions to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and Human Settlements:

Will the provincial government declare this area a disaster zone? If not, why not? If so, what are the necessary details?

Have any measures been taken to secure the site and prevent further fatalities? If not, why has no action been taken? If so, kindly provide the relevant details.

Ensuring community safety must be a paramount concern for both the department and the government. The Witherow Dam Quarry in Heidedal poses a grave danger to the local residents, as evidenced by the series of tragic incidents that have occurred due to the hazardous conditions at the quarry.

In accordance with the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2022, we urgently request that the Witherow Dam Quarry be declared a disaster area. Section 55 of the Act empowers the municipality responsible for coordinating and managing the disaster to declare a local state of disaster in exceptional circumstances where existing legislation and contingency arrangements fail to effectively address the situation.

Issued by Attie Terblanche - DA Councillor Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality