27 Nov 2019

The Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Mr Lefoko Moagi says Conduit Investment and Wostic Science technology (Pty) Ltd have been operating Moshana Quarry for the past 10 years.

Responding to a question in Parliament Minister Moagi said the quarry which changed hands twice, changed ownership first through forced sale under liquidation with the last transfer being driven by investors exiting because of marginal profits due to proximity to markets.

“It was previously owned by Michael Goldberg and Heddie Goldberg from 2001 until 2006; then Conduit Investments from 2006 to 2013 and Wostic Science Technology (Pty) Ltd from 2013 to date,” he said.

Minister Moagi said the quarry was operating at marginal profits, and did not have the community social responsibility programme.

He noted that the company had previously assisted the community through donations in the form of bricks, concrete, money for independence celebrations and used equipment like hand shovels.

He said on average, the quarry operated with 44 employees annually from 2009 to 2017.

He said in 2018 the operations were on suspension for the company to rectify the environmental issues associated with asbestos which was intercepted.

Mr Moagi indicated that the Department of Mines regularly inspected the quarry to ensure compliance with the approved environmental management plans and relevant mining legislation.

He said the environmental concerns from the quarry were mostly noise, dust pollution and risk to exposure to asbestos as the quarry is adjacent to an old asbestos mine.

“The study commissioned by the quarry advised the management on areas to mine, to minimize contact with asbestos mineralisation which is a major health hazard,” he said.

He noted that after the life of the operation, the quarry would be rehabilitated to ensure that the area was safe and left in a good environmental state.

He further indicated that the operation of the quarry had both positive and negative activities as the community benefited positively through employment and economic activities.

On the negative side, the community suffered noise and dust from operations.

Member of Parliament for Kanye North Mr Thapelo Letsholo had asked the minister to state the owners of Moshana Quarry for the last ten years and the number of people employed on annual basis over the last ten years.

Mr Letsholo had also asked if the quarry operations assisted and empowered the community apart from providing employment as well as how the operation of the mine affected the health of the people living in Moshaneng and how the negative impacts were being addressed. ENDS