Accountability Gaps Stall Action at Heidedal Quarry Site, Says Mangaung Councillor
By: Bernell Simons
A lack of coordinated accountability across government departments is at the heart of ongoing safety and compliance concerns at the controversial Heidedal Quarry site, according to Mangaung Ward 16 councillor Logan Kruger.
Kruger who also serves as MMC for Safety and Traffic at the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, outlined a complex web of responsibility that has left the site in limbo, with critical rehabilitation and safety measures still unmet.
When questioned about whether the quarry site has a valid environmental impact assessment and complies with its conditions, Kruger clarified that such matters fall outside municipal authority.
“Environmental impact assessments fall under the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). It is not within municipal jurisdiction.
“However, the quarry issue is not confined to a single authority but spans multiple departments.
“This matter is multidisciplinary. Environmental compliance lies with DSTI, mining closure certificates with the Department of Mineral Resources, and bylaw enforcement with the municipality,” she said.
At the centre of the controversy is what Kruger describes as a premature issuance of a mine closure certificate by the Department of Mineral Resources.
“The certificate was granted based on promises made by the owners — to fence, rehabilitate, and secure the land — but there was no follow-up to ensure those commitments were met,” she said.
She says a temporary closure certificate with strict conditions and timelines should have been issued instead.
“There should have been a monitoring period of at least three years before granting a permanent certificate and that is where the system failed..
The result is a dangerous accountability vacuum.
“Once that certificate was issued, the department effectively removed itself from responsibility, shifting the burden elsewhere.
“The land is privately owned and as a municipality, we cannot simply spend public funds on private property without facing legal and financial repercussions.
“We have instructed the owner to comply, as they accepted responsibility for rehabilitation when acquiring the land from the mining company.
“The land may have appeared cheap, but the real cost was the obligation to rehabilitate it.
“We understand the risks, especially with reports of people drowning. That is why enforcement remains critical, said Kruger
