Indwe miners move closer to formal mining permits after key DMRE meeting

Small-scale miners operating at Indwe Mountain have taken a significant step towards formalising their operations following a crucial meeting with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE).

The meeting, held on Wednesday morning at the DMRE offices at Pier 14 Mall, brought together officials from the department and representatives of Indwe Small-Scale Coal Miners, trading as the Indwe Primary Cooperative. The cooperative represents 35 miners currently active in the area.

Department outlines path forward

The session was led by Deputy Director Siyanda Lurhwengu, who informed attendees that the Regional Manager was unable to attend as she is currently based at the Umtata office. He added that she is expected to return next week after recent work commitments in Qamata.

Despite her absence, the meeting proceeded with a strong focus on resolving long-standing issues affecting the miners and clarifying their legal standing.

Historical agreements revisited

Discussions centred around three key documents that form the basis of the cooperative’s claims and operations:

• Minutes from a 16 February 2011 meeting involving the cooperative, the department, and Elitheni

• A settlement disclosure agreement between the cooperative and Elitheni

• A non-disclosure agreement with Malitech, the company overseeing the business rescue of Elitheni

These documents were used to establish the historical relationship between the parties and guide the way forward.

Recognition as mining partner

One of the most important outcomes of the meeting was confirmation that the Indwe Primary Cooperative is recognised as a partner of Elitheni. This partnership dates back to the prospecting phase and was mandated by the department prior to the mine becoming operational.

This recognition strengthens the cooperative’s position as it seeks to legalise and expand its activities.

Mining permit process begins

The DMRE indicated its willingness to assist the cooperative in securing a formal mining permit. Officials outlined that the first step will be for the cooperative to apply for access to official records, which are expected to support their permit application for the area where mining is currently taking place.

This move is seen as a critical step towards bringing the operations into full legal compliance.

Municipality engagement and political support

The cooperative is also set to engage the Emalahleni Local Municipality to help fast-track the formalisation of mining activities.

In a further boost, a meeting has already been secured with Executive Mayor Ntombizanele Koni. The discussions are expected to focus on unlocking municipal support for the project, particularly in areas such as infrastructure and regulatory processes.

From protest to progress

The developments follow closely on the heels of tensions in the area, where miners had previously threatened protest action. However, those plans were called off ahead of this engagement with the department.

The outcome of the meeting signals a shift towards cooperation and structured dialogue, with all parties expressing a shared commitment to formalising mining activities in Indwe.

Focus on jobs and sustainability

Stakeholders concluded the meeting with a unified goal: to ensure that mining in Indwe is conducted legally, sustainably, and in a way that supports local economic development.

If successful, the process could unlock job opportunities and provide long-term stability for dozens of miners and their families in the region.