MATABELE — Landowners and residents around the Mataffin wetland, near Gladdespruit and Rivergate Estate outside Mbombela, have raised the alarm over what they describe as sustained illegal sand mining and dumping that is degrading the local ecosystem and putting nearby properties at risk.
Community moves to halt activity
Representing affected landowners, Terry Mdluli of the Mataffin Community Trust (MCT) said the group has engaged the police and is preparing to take legal steps against those responsible. The trust has also taken on-the-ground measures, including deploying security personnel, to try to stop the operations.
"We have been trying to remove the people who are mining sand and dumping debris in the area," Mdluli said, adding that equipment and vehicles found working illegally would be confiscated.
According to security contractor John Meintjes of ACS Spartan Security, guards initially managed to halt mining in one section of the wetland that had already been severely damaged. But he said the operators simply relocated to the opposite side of the wetlands, moving their activity closer to homes.
Meintjes told Lowvelder that the excavation continued daily, mainly in daylight, and that his company eventually withdrew its services because protecting one portion of the land felt like "robbing a client" while mining persisted nearby.
Environmental and property concerns
Residents say the illegal activity has involved the removal of trees, digging of sand, and the dumping of building rubble and other waste across parts of the landscape. Wetlands perform crucial functions — including flood attenuation, groundwater recharge and biodiversity support — and locals fear that further disturbance will increase erosion, reduce natural water filtration and undermine the value and safety of adjacent properties.
Landowners have indicated they will pursue civil and criminal remedies. They said the presence of heavy machinery and tipper trucks moving material out of the area is evidence of an organised operation rather than opportunistic scavenging.
Authorities reported to be involved
Mdluli said the MCT has been working with the police and a legal team, and that law enforcement and municipal officials have been notified. Meintjes confirmed he had engaged with both the SAPS and the local municipality, and called for more coordinated action from stakeholders to stop the illegal operations.
| Stakeholder | Role / action |
|---|---|
| Mataffin Community Trust (MCT) | Representing landowners; deploying guards; preparing legal action |
| ACS Spartan Security | Provided guards; later withdrew service citing ongoing mining nearby |
| SAPS | Notified; reported to be involved in responses |
| Local municipality | Reportedly informed; role in enforcement and land remediation expected |
What residents can do
- Report suspected illegal mining and dumping to the local SAPS station and to municipal environmental services.
- Document activity safely where possible — vehicle registration numbers, times, and photographs — and supply this evidence to police or legal representatives.
- Engage with community structures, such as the MCT, to coordinate reporting and legal action.
The scale and persistence of the activity, residents say, underline a need for stronger enforcement and cooperation between landowners, law enforcement and local government. If left unchecked, degradation of the wetland could have lasting effects on local biodiversity, stormwater management and the value of neighbouring properties.
Local conservationists and those working in environmental management warn that wetlands are fragile systems: damage is often difficult and costly to reverse. The community's push for immediate intervention reflects a wider concern in Mpumalanga about unregulated natural-resource extraction near residential areas and ecological assets.
For now, the MCT is preparing court action while continuing to press authorities to halt operations on the ground. Residents say they will monitor the situation and seek restitution for environmental harm and risks posed to their properties.
Nomsa Mahlangu is the Mpumalanga correspondent based in Mbombela, tracking environmental and community stories that connect energy, land use and local livelihoods.
