FORUM: Ecology Committee

ISSUE: Illegal Mining

COUNTRY: South Africa
DELEGATE: Luis Matteo De Bernardis
We are living in a world where everyone wants to constantly become richer without
thinking of the repercussions or liabilities that they will have to assume. The extraction
of natural resources is something that while controlled by organizations that enforce
strict policies should be allowed. However, it is inevitable that countries with high
presence of formal miners do not incentivize others, without permits or licenses, to
command on-going mining operations. Currently, the world owes 45% of its Gross
Domestic Product to mining. This truly lets us imagine the amount of illicit, tax-evading
operations that take place throughout the world. Constantly, through the emergence and
development of a globalized world, and increase of means of communication and
accessibility of trade, physical barriers that previously existed are beginning to break
away, thus increasing the amount of operations even further.
South Africa is constantly faced with illegal mining as a problem in many aspects in
life. This country is the global power in mining: it has 2.5 trillion of mineral reserves
(gold, diamonds, base metals and coal) that are waiting to be extracted. Due to this high
amount of potential natural richness waiting to be extracted, this activity takes place
since pre-colonial times (approximately), and there still even much in this part of the
Earth. According to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of
2002, only large, fully registered, capital intensive industry may prospect for, mine and
process minerals. The South African government is the legal owner or 'custodian' of all
underground resources irrespective of land rights or title on the land surface. While any
small scale and artisanal miners are, by definition, illegal, all natural resources covered
by the act are deemed to be "the common heritage of all the people of South Africa".
This literal interpretation gives many illegal miners the justification they need, and that
they feel is important, to mine these resources for their own account, regardless of the
other provisions of the Act, thus causing constant civil unrests between artisanal
(illegal) miners and the police.
Since artisanal mining is illegal, it is very difficult to give it an economic value, as well
as try to close down all operations that are found active. Due to the poverty in
neighbouring countries, about 70% of all arrested illegal miners are illegal immigrants,
according to the Chamber of Mines. While the zama zamas (illegal miners) will risk
going deep into both abandoned and operational mines, other artisanal miners scour
deserted or unwanted sites for minerals on the surface. At some times, some legal mine
workers are said to even take part in illegal activity during their leave periods too.
However, those who do not take care of themselves and contract diseases such as
silicosis will have to seek medical public health from the country. Thus, through
globalization, this problem, if not brought to an end will only face the road of
exponential growth.
Although the problems mentioned above are only some of all those existent, the
delegation of South Africa wishes to drive its country towards the termination of illegal
or artisanal mining through various different channels, as it does not only affect those
who mine in this fashion, but the environment damage comes as a cost to society that

everyone has to pay and suffer the consequences for. The difficult socio-economic
climate that many individuals live in, almost not knowledge of the damage they could
do when throwing mercury into the rivers and the lack of education thereof leads to the
creation of kingpins in illegal mining, which control this cycle that will not be
interrupted by anyone who does not dare make a change. However, many view this
diggings as artisanal mining, and rather than the government wanting to understand the
natives, they rather see its as a headache and want quick solutions. This is why no long
term action plans are placed and employment in these businesses are left in place.
Since many closed or shut-down formal mines are the nests for many illegal miners, the
first important plan that should be taken in place, not only within South Africa but
encouraged to other countries with a rich background in metal extractions is to
complexly close all entrances for nun-functioning mines: preventing the entrance to
placers were people, in search for minerals can cook, work and sleep below ground for
even months at a time. Since no longer secure with strong infrastructure, entrances can
collapse, and assure a certain death to everyone inside through the means of poisonous
gasses, lack of food, and even turf wars.
The next action step necessary to reach the goal is have the government work closely to
increase security along the mines, as well as increasing convictions for illegal miners.
Preventing is the most important measure necessary, and this can only be done by
having a zero-tolerance policy, and having no mercy until the problem is more
controlled (something which is currently not happening at all). Prison time could be
compulsory to anyone caught in this activities, as well as education towards the damage
that they caused to themselves and the environment.
Since this will already leave an impact in society, having as a next step be the protection
and cleaning of natural habitats as well as increasing the availability of healthcare
system in mining areas so that they can be able to treat any initial symptoms of
respiratory diseases of those working in the mines. Mercury and cyanide as easy to find
in amounts to break apart the metal ores, removing any impurities and turning them
towards their pure form. Since there are no ecological solutions implemented by these
miners, they get rid of the waste anyway they deem necessary, without notion of the
harm that they could cause. Carbon fines to the kingpins of operations (once caught
with the police force) could apply as money or prison time.
Finally, the final step for maintaining a peaceful situation with the environment and
illegal miners in the countries all around the world should be the creation and
implementation of a Ecology Mining Committee, in charge of determining which zones
to focus upon, as well as be in contact with environmental organizations with the
purpose of depending upon them to help in this specific aspect in each country. Seeking
help from MEDCs to fund operations to bring down illegal miners in LEDCs would be
another branch contributing to this organization.
Shall everything go for the best and may we, as delegates, reach an agreement that
settles this problem for once and for all.