The burning of two people by underground coal fires has created fear in the community of Uitkyk Farm in Middelburg, Mpumalanga.
It is alleged that some mining companies left the area without rehabilitating it, which is believed to be the cause of underground coal fires.
An unrehabilitated area is a piece of land that has been mined and never returned to the condition that it was in before mining activities took place.
In one of the latest incidents, an 11-year-old boy, Tumelo Mashile, sustained serious injuries when he fell into one of the sinkholes from an old open-cast coal mine.
Mashile's sister Ayanda Khumalo said the incident happened last month, but her brother was still unable to walk.
"The injuries were serious because he did not even manage to write his final exams. He was playing with his friend, just near the N4 Road, when the incident happened," said Khumalo.
This story is from the December 18, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
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This story is from the December 18, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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