"Mining directors face R10m fine, jail time for pollution", 11 March 2017

The Green Scorpions have hauled three directors of Blyvooruitzicht and Village Main Reef gold mining companies to court for alleged significant pollution and environmental degradation. If convicted, the trio, Dalubuhle Ncube, Paul Marius Saaiman and Mark Burrell, could face maximum penalties of up to R10 million in fines and/ or a 10-year jail term. They appeared in the regional court in Merafong, on the West Rand, on Tuesday following a three-year investigation by the Green Scorpions that could set a “game-changing” precedent for the responsibilities of mining directors who apply to liquidate mines but “leave polluted sites” in their wake. In February 2014, the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE) opened a criminal case against the directors of DRDGold and its operator, Village Main Reef...“This is regarding the duties, the responsibilities and liabilities of directors of mining companies, who apply for liquidation and winding-up but that leave in their wake ecologically and geo-physically unstable and polluted sites, which impose economic, social and environmental liabilities upon local communities, neighboring mines, future generations and the State.”, said [FSE] spokesperson Mariette Liefferink....Kenny Oldwage, an advocate who is representing the Blyvoor directors, could not comment this week