Cape Town - Protesters marched yesterday in a bid to highlight the impact mining has on humans, the environment and animals.
The protest was staged at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) as the Mining Indaba entered its third day.
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“Africa is a mineral-rich continent, yet the indaba focuses only on the profits and not the health risks, pollution of the environment and the consequences of miners no longer able to work.
“The current Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act needs to be re-evaluated as our vision is to ensure that natural resources work for all the people,” said Simon Vilakazi, programme co-ordinator of the Alternative Mining Indaba.
He is also a member of the Economic Justice Network (EJN) of the Fellowship of Councils of Churches in Southern Africa.
About 300 supporters of both organisations took part in the protest.
EJN executive director Malcolm Damon said the organisation was established because the Mining Indaba focused on investments and not the people.
“To register for the indaba alone costs $2 000 (R31 740) and it’s impossible for the poor communities to attend.
“How we can make industry and government aware of the communities who are not consulted or benefited by natural resources?” said Damon.
EJN member Moreblessings Chidaushe, from Zimbabwe, said: “We are not the enemy of the government or industry, we are saying, ‘let’s talk and work together’.
“We are the same people and we are not against mining, let’s just make it work for all the people.”