Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698137768528.pdf (South Africa)
MINISTRY MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA Private Bag X 59, Arcadia, 0007, Trevenna Campus, Building 2C, C/o Meintjes & Francis Baard Street, Tel: +27 12 406 7612, Fax: +27 12 323 5849 Private Bag X9111 Cape Town 8000, 7th Floor, 120 Plein Street Cape Town, Tel: +27 21 469 6425, Fax: +27 21 465 5980 Memorandum from the Parliamentary Office National Assembly:85 Please find attached a response to Parliamentary Question for written reply asked by Ms E L Powell (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: Mr David Msiza Chief Inspector of Mines 21/02/2022 Recommended/ Not Recommended Adv.
T.S Mokoena Director General: Department of Mineral Resources and Energy ………………/………………/2022 Approved / Not Approved Mr. S.G Mantashe Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy ………………/………………/2022 85.
Ms E L Powell (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy: 1) In light of the significant impact mining has on communities and the environment, how is blasting regulated in the mining industry of the Republic; 2) Whether mining rights contain conditions pertaining to blasting limits where applicable and when the mining operation requires blasting; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; 3) Which (a) South African and (b) international standards does his department apply with regard to (i) open-cast, (ii) underground and (iii) other types of mines in the Republic when a mining right is granted; 4) Will he furnish Ms E L Powell with copies of the applicable standards; and 5) Whether his department intends to make regulations, norms and standards and/or otherwise regulate blasting operations in the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
NW89E Reply 1) Mining continues to be a major contributor to the South African economy.

Blasting is the initiation of explosives for the purposes of fragmenting of rock or ore body at mines.

It is regulated by the Mine Health and Safety Act (No.

29 of 1996) as amended, as well as Explosives Regulations in Chapter 4.
The respective legislation states the following:  Section 5 (2): Every employer must – identify the relevant hazards and assess the related risks to which persons who are not employees may be exposed, and - Ensure that persons who are not employees, but who may be directly affected by the activities at the mine, are not exposed to any hazards to their health and safety.
 Section 8 (1)(c): Every employer must prepare a document that establishes a policy concerning the protection of persons who are not employees but who may be directly affected by the activities at the mine  Regulation 4.16.
(2): The employer must take reasonable measures to ensure that no blasting operations are carried out within a horizontal distance of 500 meters of any public building, public thoroughfare, railway line, power line, any place where people congregate or any other structure, which it may be necessary to protect in order to prevent any significant risk, unless: (a) a risk assessment has identified a lesser safe distance and any restrictions and conditions to be complied with; (b) a written application is submitted to the Principal Inspector of Mines accompanied by the following documents for approval- (i).
a sketch plan indicating the distance from the blasting area to the affected structures; (ii).

the risk assessment; (iii).

a proof of consultation with the owners of the affected structures; and (iv).

restrictions and conditions.

(c) a written approval has been granted by the Principal Inspector of Mines; and (d) any restrictions and conditions determined by the Principal Inspector of Mines are complied with.
2) Mining rights are granted to applicants who have demonstrated and submitted to the Department, copies of documentary proof of: - technical ability or access thereto to conduct mining activities and to mitigate and rehabilitate environmental impacts, - ability to comply with provisions of the Mine Health and Safety Act, including conditions pertaining to blasting limits.
3) The employer at any mine must take reasonable practicable measures to ensure that where initiation of explosives charges takes place by means of electricity- (a) apparatus used for the initiation of electronic detonators complies with SANS 1717-1 (2006) The design and approval of Electronic Explosive Devices (EEO) initiation systems for use in mining and civil blasting' and SANS 551 (2010) 'Detonators, relays and initiating devices for commercial applications'; (b) apparatus used for the initiation of electric detonators complies with SANS 1717-2 (2006) The design and approval of EEO initiation systems for use in mining and civil blasting' Part 2 "Electric Initiation System - Shot Exploder Based of SANS 1717'; (c) apparatus used for the initiation of detonators by means of a controlled blasting system complies with the relevant SANS 1717-3 (2014) "The design and approval of detonator initiation systems for use in mining and civil blasting Part 3 Controlled Blasting System"; (d) every shot exploder, initiator or electronic delay detonator system is tested and certified by a test laboratory accredited for this purpose by the government endorsed national accreditation body as contemplated in Approved Recommended Practice (ARP) 1717 (2010) ''Guide to the regulatory requirements for the approval of detonators, initiators and initiation systems used in mining and civil blasting applications"; (e) every inherently safe apparatus used for the testing of a Circuit containing an electric detonator, electric or electronic initiator electronic delay detonator or a similar device is tested and certified for that purpose by a test laboratory accredited for this purpose by the government endorsed national accreditation body approved by the approving authority as contemplated in ARP 1717; and (f) the shot-firing apparatus is maintained in an efficient and safe working order.
Each shot-exploder must be provided with a removable operating handle or key or with a locking arrangement to secure it against unauthorised use and must be marked with a serial number, and a record must be kept of all examinations and tests carried out on it.

4) South African National Standards (SANS) or standards prepared by the International Standards Authority (ISO) are available at South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
5) The Department continue to regulate blasting operations in the Republic in line with relevant provisions of the Mine Health and Safety Act, and Explosives Regulations under Chapter 4 of the same Act, including norms and standards covered therein.