South Africa's coal industry is concentrated in Mpumalanga province, which accounts for about 80 percent of all coal production
AFP

KEY POINTS

  • Netshitenzhe said the South African government has regulated small-scale mining
  • 21 people were found dead near a mine in Krugersdorp earlier this month
  • Small-scale mining was suspended in the Philippines' Cordillera region in 2018

South Africa's ambassador to the Philippines, Bartinah Ntombizodwa Radebe-Netshitenzhe, has urged the countries to share and implement common strategies in sustaining and developing the mining industry to overcome the similar issues faced by the mineral-rich nations.

Speaking at the 68th Annual Mine Safety and Environment Conference at the CAP Cultural and Trade Center in Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Netshitenzhe noted that South Africa was dealing with the same problems hounding the Philippine mining sector, The Manila Times reported.

Netshitenzhe told more than 1,000 mining professionals at the conference that small-scale mining was a problem in her country as much as it was in the Philippines, while adding social, environmental and political troubles were also prevalent.

However, she added, as part of the efforts to reduce the issues linked to the mining industry in South Africa, the government has been regulating small-scale mining.

Netshitenzhe also pointed out that safety was one of "the most important" issues in the mining industry. She said the two countries should "share the experiences" on how "deep mining" was being managed or regulated to help "reduce fatalities."

The South African ambassador reiterated that "communities must benefit" from the industry, while adding more work should be done to mitigate concerns and problems associated with the sector.

Netshitenzhe's visit to the Philippines came about two weeks after the South African police launched an investigation into the deaths of 21 people found dead near a mine in Krugersdorp.

Security officers in the area were alerted by an anonymous caller about the dead bodies at the privately-owned mines. Authorities believe the deceased were illegal miners; however, preliminary investigations showed there was "no foul play."

Krugersdorp, which is located west of Johannesburg, has become infamous over the last few years due to violence associated with illegal mining operations, Deutsche Welle reported.

Meanwhile in the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has assured the public that it will work to revive the mining industry.

Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones said earlier this month that the country's mining production should increase to improve the stakeholders' "economic condition."

The DENR suspended small-scale mining operations in the Cordillera Administrative Region in 2018 after a landslide killed 34 people in Itogon, Benguet, which is near Baguio City.