By Kotie Geldenhuys; Images courtesy of Unsplash and Pixabay
In the heart of South Africa lies eMalahleni (formerly known as Witbank), which literally means “the place of coal”. Beneath its surface rests a vast fortune hosting South Africa’s largest coal reserves. For decades, eMalahleni and surrounding areas such as Middelburg, Ermelo and Carolina, have been a powerhouse of coal mining activity, with hundreds of underground and opencast mines scattered across its landscape. These mines have for decades not only long fuelled the coal-rich area but also the nation’s energy. But where there is wealth, there is temptation. As the coal industry thrived, so too did the ambition of some unscrupulous people who spotted an opportunity to bypass the long road to success to make their fortunes in an underhanded manner. Since coal is such an abundant resource, it was an unlikely target for theft – or so we thought.
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[This is only an extract of an article that is published in Servamus: December 2024. This article is available for purchase.]