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H-Metro Reporter
CLEVELAND Dam is under siege from illegal sand poachers with shocking evidence showing over 200 sand miners having besieged the dam’s catchment area.
A ticking time bomb is slowly counting down to an environmental disaster as the sand poachers are wreaking havoc around Cleveland Dam, one of the country’s important wetlands.
The massive sand extraction within this area is extensive.
According to official figures, at least 1 900 hectares have been affected by land degradation and the figure is projected to rise due to the current illegal activities.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Education and Publicity Manager, Amkela Sidange, said:
“The activities are happening within the catchment area of the dam and we fear this will negatively impact on the capacity of the area to recharge.”
One of the sand poachers said:
“We just load the lorries and we share dollars among ourselves.
“I am selling the whole 10 cubic for US$65 and I can get at least three or four trucks daily,” said one of the sand poachers.
Online Reporter