Kgoshi Makatikele Andries Malatji condemned the violence perpetuated by residents at the Makhushane 4-ways (Mica Road) over the past few weeks, during the official opening of the Makhushane Community Hall at Moshate, which was built by Leolo Community Trust.
Speaking on Friday, September 27, after opening the hall accompanied by the BaPhalaborwa Municipality Mayor, Councillor Merriam Malatji, Palabora Copper Company Secretary, Dennis Modise, on behalf of the CEO and other dignitaries, Kgoshi Malatji said the frequent violent unrests at the fourway must, as a matter of urgency, come to an end.
“What is the logic behind burning trucks and for that matter old ones because the owners of those trucks will get new ones from their insurance companies? This is nothing but a barbaric and anarchistic act by some of our children,” he stated.
“You close roads and burn trucks but the truck owners are compensated and you get absolutely nothing from your violent protests. It is high time that unemployment forum leaders tell our residents the honest truth pertaining to the requirements for jobs at PMC,” he continued. He also mentioned that the entry level for a person to get employed in the mine was grade 12 certificate.
Read: PHALABORWA: Hooliganism condemned
“The mines have always been ready to sit at the table and negotiate but your leaders are still hell bent on having parallel forums. We have taken a decision that as long as the parallel forums are not prepared to come to the table and merge, we will only work with those following due procedures,” he said with a stern tone, also mentioning that this meant that those who were creating anarchy and division would be left out. Malatji also thanked the correctional services for providing ex-inmates out on parole to assist in the construction of the hall after Leolo Community Trust had a budget challenge deficit amounting to over two million, in order to complete it.
“The services rendered by the Correctional Services are highly appreciated because, had we opted to use a private company, we couldn’t have completed the project due to the lack of resources. We also thank Lousuz Civil Construction, MaiteEddy Pty Ltd and MP Mangena Welding and Design for their great work as contractors. We are confident that the community will utilize this hall efficiently as it is our legacy and that of our grandchildren,” he said.
Kgoshi Makhushane further said those who had evidence to substantiate allegations that Community Liaison Officers (CLO) was selling jobs in the mine should give it to the mine. “Those CLOs will be fired with immediate effect. In the failure of evidence being presented, there’s nothing the mine could or will do because allegations will remain as such, until tested with genuine evidence,” he concluded.
Merriam Malatji thanked PMC and Leolo Community Trust for assisting the municipality in creating better communities.
“What we are witnessing today is resonating with what the Council is expecting from all our strategic partners and stakeholders. We know that we still have bulk infrastructure backlog, but working together with our mines and other entities we will be able to transform our communities and restore the dignity of our previously marginalised residents,” she said.
Kgoshi SSS Sekororo, on behalf of Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, applauded the excellent work done by the Makhushane Traditional Authority and its partners. The PMC Company Secretary, Dennis Modise, committed the mine to continue playing its role in the economic and social empowerment of the local communities. Various traditional groups ranging from children, women and senior citizens performed dances, poetry and other things.
