A report in the Business Day has sparked a response from the Federation for a Sutainable Environment.  Mariette Liefferink, the CEO states that Mike Muller, a former Director General of the Department of Water Affairs is "unlikely to acknowledge that there are currently significant AMD risks resulting from the flooding of the mining basins in the Witwatersrand Gold Fields"

Gains, benefits and losses

In the article, the extent of the Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is assessed, and government is accused of not having a strategy in place to deal with the toxic water and the serious threat is poses to the environment.

Muller is quoted by Business Day, saying that the media coverage on AMD is "heavily influenced by interest in mining and water treatment industries which stand to profit by exaggerating the problem".

Muller says that some of mitigation of the AMD problem is possible by reducing the amount of surface water making its way into the mine shafts.

Liefferink of the FSE has responded "We respectfully, but firmly dissent from the viewpoint of Prof. Mike Muller that the risks of AMD to our surface- and groundwater resources are 'exaggerated'".

She also points to an omission in the Business Day report.  Mike Muller was Director-General  (DG) of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) (1997-2005) where he led the development and implementation of legislation, policies and strategies in water resources and water services as well as Government’s water supply and sanitation programme.

"Prof. Muller was therefore the DG of the DWAF when the decant of the first mining basin, namely the West Rand Basin occurred in August, 2002.   From 2002 to 2005 the AMD was allowed to flow untreated into the Tweelopiespruit and the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Areas, with devastating consequences", says Liefferink.

She argues that a former Director General is unlikely to acknowledge that there are currently significant AMD risks resulting from the flooding of the mining basins in the Witwatersrand Gold Fields.  "[It] would in fact be a confession that he or she has failed in his or her statutory duty of care during his or her term in office to put proactive water management measures in place".

Liefferink concludes. "We concur, however, with the recommendations of the Department of Mineral Resources’ Regional Mine Closure Strategies for the West-, Far West, East and Central Rand Gold Fields, namely:   The least desirable option for the long term is natural decant.  This option will allow contamination of the dolomite aquifer, changing the ecology of the rivers systems, causing the corrosion of infrastructure and result in sinkholes and seismicity. 

Detailed mine water management interventions must be put in place within prescribed time frames in order to prevent uncontrolled decant of AMD charged with toxic metals and extremely high sulphate content to surface environments.  The recommended option is pumping and treatment. The polluter pays principle and the precautionary principle must be applied, and the authorities must apportion clear accountability.  The matter is urgent."