Illegal sand mining destroys infrastructure, puts lives in danger
30 January 2022
On Friday, 28 January 2022, I went to the Khayelitsha, outside Mew Way Community Hall to see for myself the impact of illegal sand mining on the City’s infrastructure.
The City’s Road Infrastructure Management Department has been battling with illegal sand mining for a few years now. Those doing illegal sand mining have destroyed numerous bridges, road shoulders and medians across Cape Town. Of greater concern however, is the danger this activity poses to residents and communities. Illegal mining undermines the integrity of our road infrastructure, meaning the infrastructure can collapse.
Some of the infrastructure that has been destroyed due to sand mining are as follows:
- Pama bridge in Khayelitsha
- Lindela Road bridge - the footway and guardrail collapsed in Khayelitsha
- Bridge at Govan Mbeki across railway line - the footway and guardrail collapse in Brown’s Farm Philippi close to the Fezeka Municipal Building
- Footway bridge at Lower crossroads - total collapse in Lower Crossroads, off Ngqwangi drive Philippi
- Steve Biko Drive in Gugulethu
- Klipfontein Road in Tambo Village
- Waterberg Road, Heideveld - Footbridge across the Railway line
The bridge in Waterberg Road in Heideveld was severely affected by this illicit practice multiple times. In 2017, the illegal sand miners dug under the bridge and created a dangerous hollow. The City acted by building a supporting wall and backfilling with compacted sand.
In 2021, we received another notification of illegal sand mining at the bridge. Again, we backfilled all areas and included a concrete layer on the top to prevent further sand mining. Extra milling material was placed against the embankments to prevent the illegal miners from gaining easy access to the sand we used for backfilling.
Nevertheless, this week, we received reports that there are signs of digging on the side that was not previously affected.
This has to stop.
Illegal sand mining has already cost lives.
On 8 February 2021 children were trapped when the embankment on the N2 in the Borchards Quarry area close to the Cape Town International Airport collapsed. This tragedy should never have happened.
We need our communities to work with us. The City, on its own, cannot prevent this activity as we cannot monitor and safeguard all of our infrastructure, all of the time.
I went to Khayelitsha to see the devastation to our infrastructure and I am shocked and sad that the perpetrators are ruthlessly robbing the City and its residents.
The money that we spend on constant repairs is money that could be redirected to other services. This is a crime and I want to urge residents and communities to please report these crimes to the South African Police Service and the Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63.
The illegal sand mining also damages underground services like cables, pipes, water and sewer mains. It undermines road verges close to road edges which causes footways to collapse. This poses a serious danger to all road users and pedestrians.
Sand mining is more than just removing sand, but includes uprooting trees to make illegal roads. The illegal miners also destroy small ponds, rivers, brooks and canals to get about with their business. It also affects properties and property values.
The sand from illegal sand mining is used to fill in or level areas, for building, and so forth.
I again appeal to residents to help us put a stop to this illegal sand mining by reporting all incidents to the Transport information Centre on 080 065 6463.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
