Grootvlei Proprietary Mines (Pty) Ltd is a subsidiary of Petrex (Pty) Ltd and is the last remaining operational gold mine in the East Rand Basin of the Witwatersrand gold fields. Mining in the East Rand Basin has been ongoing for over 80 years and the basin is now largely mined out.

Grootvlei Mine dewaters approximately 75 Ml/day from its workings. The water is treated and discharged to the Blesbokspruit. A proportion of this water is believed to originate from surface water.
A study commenced in 2003 to identify areas of possible ingress and to estimate quantities of ingress associated with each area. Measures to reduce the ingress were then recommended.

The first phase of implementation involved the redirecting of low river flows and sewage plant effluents around areas of shallow undermining and possible collapse within the wetland area adjacent to Grootvlei’s West Pit, north of Main Reef Road, in Springs. The aim was to eliminate the permanent ponding of water in the area. Detailed design took place in 2004, with construction during the summer of 2005/06. A reduction in flows underground was observed at the adjacent 9 Shaft, even during construction.

Location