The hidden treasure beneath the earth

Growing up I would hear stories about how bad mining is and how does it affect our health as community members, well, I have finally found the truth through MENAR Academy and the truth is, mining is awesome! Both for our pockets and the environment as well, yes ‘environment’, while on the excavation I was expecting dust and unfriendly situation but I was proven otherwise which led me to asking ‘‘why there is no dust but the machines are drilling?’’ the answer was simple and these are the words of the Khanye Colliery mine manager Guy Thompson ‘’because we want a healthy working environment for our employees we use the best of equipment’s to keep the space clean and dustless’’ simple.

Mines play a huge role as well in the communities development programmes by developing infrastructure and enhancing the community member`s economic statuses by giving them sustainable jobs in the mines, on the other hand our government according what most speakers had to say in their presentation is failing to come up with progressive regulations in the mining sector which pulls away the potential investors and this hits hard on the fiscal of the country.

The mining sector contributes immensely into the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this country, indeed the light was brought in to my eyes and all the stereotypes about mining was completely removed and now I can proudly involve myself in defending the mining sector and share my experience with my fellow community members.  

I have learned so much that my specialisation as a student journalist was changed now I can proudly say I am a mining journalist and I will dedicate my time in informing my brothers and sisters in Mpumalanga and probably the whole country who share the same sentiments against the mines around us, I definitely can not wait to share my experience, it is all thanks to Menar Academy for giving me such a wonderful experience.

By Solomon Maseko