- Title
- The perceived socio-environmental impacts of illegal sand mining along the Umvoti River in KwaDukuza Local Municipality, KwaZulu - Natal Province, South Africa
- Creator
- Mbiko, Lubabalo
- Subject
- Ecosystem health
- Subject
- Biodiversity
- Date
- 2020-07
- Type
- Master's theses
- Type
- text
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20474
- Identifier
- vital:45669
- Description
- This study examined and documented the perceptions of local communities towards the socio-environmental impacts associated with illegal sand mining activities along the Umvoti River, in the KwaDukuza Local Municipality in South Africa. It was imperative to elicit the perceptions of both the local people and the government officials to understand the extent of the socio- environmental effects of illegal sand mining in the study area. To this end, a qualitative research approach was designed and used to collect the data. Data collection techniques employed included site observations and a semi-structured interview schedule with key informants. Additionally, 50 questionnaire surveys were administered to the residents of the Nsikeni and Melville communities within the study area. The results of the study revealed that illegal sand mining along the Umvoti River has contributed significantly to the degradation of grazing and farm lands, including diversion of the river and the destruction of the riparian vegetation. Evidence of water pollution, and air pollution in the form of dust, were also reported. The study observed problems in ecosystem functioning, particularly in regard to the flora and fauna, and there was extensive destruction of the aesthetic beauty of the local landscape. In addition, the study indicated that people and livestock drowned in the deep trenches that were not rehabilitated following illegal sand mining practise that was migrating along the river. Furthermore, illegal sand mining was linked with an increase in poverty and prostitution, as well as the destruction of the infrastructure in the nearby communities. Moreover, community conflicts arose from the differing perceptions on the existence of illegal sand mining in these communities. To curb illegal sand mining, the study recommends that the current legislation on the extraction of mineral commodities in South Africa should be stringently and effectively enforced. The research further recommends that community policing forums should be established and work closely with law enforcement agencies to deal with illegal sand mining activities. Accordingly, the research study recommends the elimination of the current tedious and burdensome process of obtaining amining permit.
- Description
- Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2020
- Format
- computer
- Format
- online resource
- Format
- application/pdf
- Format
- 1 online resource (176 pages)
- Format
- Publisher
- University of Fort Hare
- Publisher
- Faculty of Science and Agriculture
- Language
- English
- Rights
- University of Fort Hare
- Rights
- All Rights Reserved
- Rights
- Open Access
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Collections
UFH Department of Geography & Environmental Science
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Mbiko L MPhil Mini-dissertation June 2021_pdf.pdf | 4 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |