Chairperson, hon Minister, it is good to have you here, hon members. As the NCOP committee, we visited the Eland Shaft, and we were briefed by all stakeholders except the zama-zamas. Those who were underground would not speak to us and those that were above ground were dead - a lot of them. They died at the beginning of June.
We found out about three major things at the shaft. The illegal mining industry is growing fast; the second issue was that it is organised crime on a big scale. I don't know if I heard the Minister correctly. She spoke about R5,6 billion. The figure that was mentioned to us was R10 billion, so it varies a bit. Billions! Yes, it's a big industry. Until these unfortunate deaths, the ANC and the Department of Mining had been turning a blind eye to all of this. [Interjections.] It has been coming for a long time; illegal mining is a big contributor to organised crime in South Africa, and it needs to be stopped.
The so-called zama zamas channel an estimated R10 billion each year into the hands of criminal syndicates. These funds go into drug distribution, prostitution rings and all other sorts of unsavoury practices - in short, activities that make South Africa a more dangerous and unlawful place.
It is obvious that cutting down on these activities would have a drastic and immediate effect on the ability of organised crime to function and will, therefore, improve the security situation in South Africa. Rather than spending millions upon millions of rands on government VIP protection, the people of South Africa would be much better served if crime could be tackled at its roots.
In order to do this, the DA happens to be agreeing with the Minister. We would like the Hawks to form a special unit, and this is what we are proposing, to exclusively clamp down on the zama zamas. The case for such a unit is clear. It is a relatively specialised area, and it is a source of criminal funding that can be turned off if policed correctly.
Up to now, the government has had its head in the sand, so to speak. There has been no political will to curb the spread of illegal mining at these decommissioned mines, thereby creating a huge gap to fill the pockets of criminals. The Department of Mining is clearly incapable of dealing with this matter, and is either unwilling or unable to take action against this problem. It is true that monitoring the decrepit mines may be seen as counterproductive to a country that needs all of its security resources available. But the argument is clear; stop this huge influx of funding to criminals and organised crime will be reduced.
South Africa needs to be smart about how we are going to tackle the enormous crime problem. Merely waiting for something to happen, as the Department of Mining has done until the beginning of June, is not going to solve anything. On the contrary, the problem is getting worse and is getting more difficult to clamp down on it, as it is becoming more entrenched.
Some may argue that clamping down on illegal mining is unfair because these people are merely scavenging the remains of old mines. This argument does not hold up, especially since organised crime is part of the package. Unemployed people are severely exploited, often having to stay underground for up to six months. The Minister said it is double that time, so let us believe her. It is inhumane and surely falls beyond the ANC's conception of decent work.
The DA will take the matter further as the zama zamas are becoming everybody's problem. The government needs to do something.
In closing, the DA sympathises with the families of those zama zamas who died so tragically early in June this year. These deaths are placed at the door of the Department of Mining. It took these deaths to bring the horse to the water, and now we will help the horse to drink the water! I thank you. [Applause.]