Mines ministry to issue permits to thousands of zama-zamas
Fin24.com reports that thousands of illegal diamond diggers will be granted a mining permit by the Department of Mineral Resources as part of a plan to formalise the trade which is draining the industry, according to Deputy Mining MinisterGodfrey Oliphant.After years of illegally extracting diamond fragments from a mining site owned by the Kimberley Ekapa Mining Joint Venture, the Kimberley p online Artisanal Mineworkers will finally be recognised as a legal mining cooperative.
“This is a major milestone for both the mining group and the miners who for a long time have been seen as illegal miners,” said Oliphant.“This came after lengthy consultations between all the parties, including the provincial government of the Northern Cape,” Oliphant told Fin24.