Govt proposing tougher penalties for illicit mining: Kubayi
Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, says government is proposing tougher penalties for illicit mining.
South Africa's Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has announced plans to introduce stricter penalties for illicit mining activities through proposed amendments to the Diamond Act and General Mining Laws. These changes would increase fines under the Diamond Act from R250,000 to a maximum of R100 million and extend maximum prison sentences for mining offences from 10 to 30 years.
The proposed General Mining Laws Amendment Bill also aims to criminalise illicit mining activities, expand police enforcement powers, and introduce greater transparency and accountability for trustees managing trusts. Kubayi emphasized the need for these reforms, stating that illicit mining is connected to various serious crimes and has detrimental effects on communities, infrastructure, and water security.
The proposed changes are part of four Amendment Bills currently open for public comment, with submissions closing on September 11.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
