Dear Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation,

I am Thembinkosi Mabuza from Mkhondo formerly known as Piet Retief, I am writing this message with a very sore heart. I am a small farmer in the area and a few months ago I noticed that my stream was running dry through my farm had to move my cattle out of that portion.

On the 14th of September my brother who looks after the farm for me reported that the mine has made a road leading into my farm, and they cut my fence and put a gate left part of the fence opened. They proceeded to excavate a portion of my farm. All this happens without my knowledge or consent.

As a farmer this loss of water due to the drying up of springs has impacted on me greatly. Further I was never informed that the mine qould be mining under my farm or would enter my farm without consent and do as they please. Does owning a mining right give them more rights over the land owners.

I have several streams and springs running through other portions of my farm ( Donkerhoek 14HT and Donkerhoek 10HT ) if this mine continues to mine under my properties I am afraid all my streams will dry up and this will not only affect me as a farmer but will affect other users downstream as well. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I SHOULD STATE THAT THE MAIN HLELO RIVER STARTS FROM A SPRING ON MY FARM and it runs through out the year even in a dry season it run none stop)

I would appreciate if this can draw the attention of the legislators to come and observe our cry because even the communities around are faced with the same problem of water.

Hope this finds you well.

Yours sincerely.
Thembinkosi Reginald Mabuza