Issued by: Ministry of Mineral and Energy Affairs
MEDIA ADVISORY BY THE MINISTER OF MINERAL AND ENERGY AFFAIRS, MR R F (PIK) BOTHA
MEADOWLANDS RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM EXCESSIVE AIRBORNE DUST
A SOLUTION IS HOPEFULLY IN SIGHT
The homes of the Meadowlands community have for some time now been invaded by a fine, dry powder from nearby mine dumps, especially when the wind blows. This dust has worked against the efforts of ordinary people to keep homes clean and to live normally. They have had to face a pervasive infiltration of tiny particles that settle on furniture, food, window-sills, toothbrushes, floors, hi-fi and television sets, clothes and any thing else in their homes.
On Sunday 22 October 1995, at a service of worship with the congregation of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa at 450 Maseru Street, Meadowlands, conducted by Rev Motsaung, those who experience the dust every day of their lives described to me i detail what it was like.
I undertook ok do something about the matter. The next week I called a meeting of the relevant members of my Department. I subsequently met with the management of the Durban Roodepoort Deep mine, the present owners of the mine dumps responsible for the problem, to see what could be done.
Many different solutions - bricks, plastic covers, watering etc - were suggested and eventually had to be rejected for one practical reason or another. For example, a chemical binding compound (ligno sulphate) sprayed over the mine heaps was not durable enough to be a long term solution. But it seems that grass might be an effective answer to the problem.Grass would not normally grow on the mine dumps, but thanks to a special nutrient developed by the state-owned Central Energy Fund, this is now possible.
The Meadowlands community has fully participated in the process of finding a solution. The committee set up to resolve the Meadowlands dust problem includes elected members of the Meadowlands community.
The Durban Roodepoort Deep dust prevention programme has progressed to the point where it is ready to be launched. On the morning of Monday 4 March 1996, at 10h00 we will be meeting at Durban Roodepoort Deep Limited's Mine Office of a presentation on the dust prevention programme. From there we will proceed to the dump from whence the dust comes. There we will hold a grass-planning ceremony during which we will plant the first piece of grass on the north face of the dump. That square of grass will be the first part of what we hope will become a blanket of cover over the sand particles that should soon no longer invade the homes of Meadowlands residents. An important act of environmental rehabilitation will have started. Afterwards a light lunch will be served at the Mine Offices and Rev Motaung of the Meadowlands community will address those present.
Won't you join us?
HOW TO GET THERE:
Take the Western Bypass (N1). From the north, take the R 27 (Maraisburg/Spencer Road) turnoff, turning right at the bridge to travel west and cross over the freeway. At the T-junction with the Main Reef Road, turn right (west). From the south, turn off at the Main Reef Road exit and turn left (west).
Once on the Main Reef Road (R41) proceed west past Robertville on the right and Lea Glen/Fleurhof on the left. With Cresswell Park on the right and at the Y-split between Main Reef and Randfontein roads, turn sharp left into the grounds of the Durban Roodepoort Deep Gold Mine. Take the first turn to your right and, with the sports grounds on your left, you will find the Mine Office directly in front of you as the road veers sharply to the right.
At 10h00 the party will be briefed shortly on the background and then proceed from the mine office to the mine dump where the grass-planting will take place.
Enquries: Roland Darroll Phone: (O) (012) 322 8695; (H) (012) 43 3394 (cellular) 082 55 27994 3 March 1996