The secretary-general of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula, was in Nkomazi Local Municipality (NLM) to follow up on the status of Lily Mine on September 20. The executive mayor of the NLM, Cllr Phindile Magagula, hosted Mbalula and some leaders of Cosatu. This comes after Mbalula’s visit on Worker’s Day to an event at the mine.
Mbalula wrote, “Today, September 20, the leadership of the tripartite alliance met at NLM to follow up, and to receive an update on the regrettable delay in the reopening of Lily Mine, and the reinstatement of all its workers. The mine was closed in 2016 after a sinkhole opened at its shaft’s entrance and buried three workers who were in a container office.”
Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi and Solomon Nyirenda were trapped inside the container when it sank underground in the sinkhole on February 5, 2016.
It has not since been recovered, and these three were by and large assumed dead. Though not by their families, who hold out hope to this day, and insist on finding their bodies so they can be given decent burials.
Cosatu’s provincial secretary, Thabo Mokoena, said they were delighted with visit of the secretary-general. “He came to monitor the progress of the commitment that he made on May Day. During the meeting, Vantage Goldfields SA did a presentation on the concept document on their readiness towards the opening of the mine. They said they have funds that they have collected. We can confirm that they said they will reinstate the employees and not re-employ them. When they reinstate them they pay them for the past years but if they re-employ them they don’t.”
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NLM’s spokesperson, Cyril Ripinga, said the municipality was glad to see that Mbalula followed up on what he said during his previous visit. “In May he said the mine will be opened in three months although there some court matters that came to light and now he returned on his fact finding mission.”
According Ripinga, this visit is good for the community members of Ward 30 in Nkomazi, where the mine is located, as it shows development. He said this includes the family members of the Lily Mine tragedy victims.
“The three people are still underground and their families want closure. The rate of unemployment in Nkomazi is high and in the area of Louisville. There is a high crime rate too due to unemployment. Zama zamas are still a thorn in our flesh.”
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Harry Mazibuko, ActionSA’s Lily Mine Tragedy Victims’ Family spokesperson, said, “More than three months have passed since Mbalula made the promise to the families at a Worker’s Day event where the mine is located. Since then, no progress has been achieved, and instead, ongoing litigation has been played in concluding rescue operations.”
