The sand, which is in high demand is being mined illegally along the stream just behind Kumakwane Village. The culprits have a station in Kumakwane Village next to a bus stop commonly called UB where trucks pay and collect them for loading. Normally sand is sold for as much P2,600 per truck, but the group charge their buyers as little as P350. The mining has been going on for years as the illegal miners are now encroaching on Mankgodi Village territory. One of the residents in the damaged area told Mmegi yesterday that the mining has been going on for years but the government has not done anything to stop it. He says they are no longer safe around their lands as the open pits have become dangerous to the people and domestic animals. When contacted, chief engineer (operations and development) at the Department of Mines, Ofentse Ditsele, said they are aware of the illegal mining that takes place in areas surrounding Gaborone and they have been "inspecting the streams to make sure people mining the sand are registered." with the department.
"We have a problem with the law which is why it appears as if we are not managing to fight illegal mining. When we arrest anyone, we charge them not more than P200, and most of the time they pay on the spot and go back to mining," said Ditsele. "We hope that when the law is amended those caught will be severely dealt with," said Ditsele. He added that sometimes they mount roadblocks along the Kumakwane road to arrest the illegal miners.
