Community angry after mining meeting at Benoni Country Club

The two portions are located next to Chevalier Street and Hospital Road, about 12km from Snake Road via Main Reef Road.

READ:

Community worried about mining talks

The project’s public participation meeting was held at the Benoni Country Club this morning (October 19) at 10am.

About 50 community members attended the meeting and attendees insisted on an accurate explanation of the mining process.

Residents are dissatisfied with the manner in which the meeting was held and accused the consulting agency Archean Resources Ltd, appointed by Nendiwave, to have been unprepared and avoiding pertinent questions.

Drilling and blasting contradiction

On October 16, Nendiwave spokesperson Tsepo Baloyi explicitly told the City Times that the project will not include any drilling or blasting.

In this morning’s meeting, the community was informed that it will be receiving appropriate blasting schedules.

When the City Times asked Archean Resources’ public participation consultant Nhlanhla Nkosa why Baloyi said no blasting will take place, Nkosa said Baloyi is “not involved in [Nendiwave’s] process” but rather only in its sister-company Thumela Logistix CC’s permit application processes.

Baloyi said Nkosa was wrong in saying that blasting will take place and said there can be no blasting in a mine dump reclamation project.

Dust management

Nkosa said dust emission will be controlled by using water on the dumps and gravel roads.

A community member, claiming to have more than 20 years’ experience in the field, told Nkosa that he believes he has “absolutely no idea what [he] is talking about”.

The man explained that dust emissions are too large and travel too far to be controlled by using water.

Expert explanation

One man insisted that the company hire an engineer to explain the mining process to the community.

At the meeting, Ward 27 Clr Jacques Meiring told Nkosa that he is simply “ticking boxes” and inadequately explaining to the community what it is they plan to do.

Insufficient notifications

One Benonian said Nendiwave did not properly inform the community about the meeting.

He accused the company of arranging the meeting for 10am, “hoping nobody shows and [the meeting] falls through the cracks”.

Most attendees cheered as one woman said the meeting cannot be held during business hours and suggested an evening meeting will be more appropriate.

Another woman added that she saw the notification by accident on a pole and shortly after the posters were all removed or blown away.

Meiring said the company must reschedule the meeting to take place in 30 days, they must place at least three advertisements in the City Times and the meeting must be held at a reasonable hour.

Legal action

In a video taken by the City Times, a woman who is an attorney said she will “be in contact with every single attorney firm in the Brakpan and Benoni district to shut [the] project down”.

She said the community demands that the meeting is declared null and void.

She also pointed out that Nkosa showed apathy toward the attendees in the meeting.

A management member for Archean Resources, who preferred not to be named, said the process is still ongoing and that a second meeting will be held to address the public’s concerns.

The Basic Assessment Report for the Modderfontein project can be requested from Nhlanhla@archeanresources.com.

Concerned community members can also email inquiries to enquiries@dmr.gov.za for more information.

Follow us on these platforms:

Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.

For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za