Solidarity Helping Hand today appealed to Eskom to not worsen the humanitarian crisis in the area surrounding the Consolidated Murchison mine near Phalaborwa.
Last week Eskom gave notice that the power to the mine houses will be cut by 23 March unless an outstanding bill of more than R5 million is settled.
The Consolidated Murchison mine, which is largely owned by Village Main Reef, was provisionally liquidated last month.
Approximately 1 000 employees have been left without an income since 10 February and are now struggling to survive.
The several families that have been affected by the production standstill at the mine now rely on donations of food and other necessities for survival. Considering that the average household consists of four people, this crisis affects close to 4 000 people.
“The mine’s employees will be staying in the houses provided to them by the mine until the liquidation process has been finalised,” says Riaan du Plooy, Helping Hand’s deputy chief executive of national structures.
“If the electricity supply is cut, these people and the other residents of Gravelotte will be left without electricity and water, as the water supply is dependent on electricity. We therefore appealed to Eskom to exercise compassion and to give these innocent people enough time to get back on their feet.”
Helping Hand moreover appealed to Village Main Reef, who owns 76,6% of the mine, to pay at least a portion of the Eskom bill to enable Eskom to extend the notice period.
Helping Hand has been distributing food and other necessities to families in the area since February.
The organisation moreover helps people who were left unemployed by the mine’s liquidation to compile CVs and to look for work by means of Helping Hand’s online jobs portal, Werknet.
Helping Hand has already provided financial aid to young people from the area to enable them to study further and will facilitate the provision of emotional and debt counselling to the area’s residents.
“We are doing everything in our power to support these families during this difficult period and we are asking for Eskom’s cooperation in order to uplift this community,” says Du Plooy.
For further details regarding donations, Helping Hand’s regional organiser in Limpopo, Marianthie van der Walt, can be contacted on 082 741 7858.
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