Botha
Gold
Mine,
trading
as
Side
Electrical
Private
Limited,
has
issued
a
clarification
on
a
recent
Notice
of
Filing
submitted
by
the
Provincial
Mining
Director
(PMD),
distancing
the
document
from
claims
that
it
represents
a
final
determination
in
an
ongoing
mining
dispute.
In
a
press
statement
dated
April
22,
2026,
the
mine’s
management
said
it
had
taken
note
of
“the
circulation
of
a
Notice
of
Filing…
which
is,
in
certain
instances,
being
mischaracterised
as
a
final
determination
of
rights
relating
to
the
disputed
mining
area.”
statement
The
company
stressed
that
the
notice
is
purely
procedural
and
forms
part
of
ongoing
court
proceedings.
“It
represents
a
position
to
be
considered
by
the
courts
and
does
not
constitute
a
ruling
or
final
determination
of
any
rights
or
interests,”
the
statement
read.
According
to
Botha
Gold
Mine,
the
matter—centred
on
a
disputed
mining
area,
including
issues
related
to
Mining
Lease
21—remains
sub
judice
and
is
still
before
the
courts.
“As
such,
no
party
is
entitled
to
present
its
position
as
conclusive
or
settled
outside
of
the
judicial
process,”
the
company
said.
Management
also
raised
concern
over
what
it
described
as
attempts
by
some
parties
to
interpret
the
PMD
filing
as
conferring
operational
authority
or
control
over
the
disputed
ground.
“Such
interpretations
are
incorrect
and
risk
creating
unnecessary
confusion
or
instigating
conflict,”
the
statement
warned.
The
company
further
clarified
that
a
procedural
court
filing
does
not
grant
rights
of
access,
control,
or
instruction
over
mining
operations.
It
added
that
third
parties
are
not
authorised
to
conduct
audits
or
interfere
with
activities
at
the
mine,
and
that
the
current
legal
and
operational
position
remains
unchanged
pending
a
court
ruling.
Botha
Gold
Mine
said
all
contractors
remain
bound
by
existing
contractual
arrangements
and
that
any
disputes
or
competing
claims
must
be
addressed
through
lawful
and
recognised
legal
channels.
The
firm
reaffirmed
its
commitment
to
regulatory
compliance
and
engagement
with
relevant
authorities,
while
urging
stakeholders
to
allow
legal
processes
to
proceed
without
premature
conclusions
or
misinterpretation.
“Stakeholders
are
therefore
urged
to
remain
calm,
act
lawfully
and
rely
only
on
verified
and
authoritative
information,”
the
statement
said.
The
company
indicated
it
will
continue
to
pursue
the
matter
through
the
courts
and
will
provide
updates
once
formal
and
binding
determinations
are
made.