CCN Team
Cape Town:- Sand mining is the process of removing sand from rivers, beaches, or construction sites.
While legal sand mining is controlled and regulated, illegal mining is done without permission and often without safety measures.
It weakens foundations of bridges, roads, and buildings by removing support structures beneath them.
It can cause flooding, soil erosion, and damage to underground pipes and cables.
In many areas, it’s driven by demand for cheap building material – but the long-term cost to the community is much higher.
“One night of digging can undo months of engineering work,” says a local municipal engineer.