“The ball is now in the mine’s court” community leader

MOKOPANE – Following the mine protests since last Monday, Phakane Mabe community leader, told Bosveld on Tuesday afternoon “the ball is now in the mine’s court, the community is ready to sit down and talk.

“Cox spoke briefly to us on Tuesday morning and indicated he is ready to listen and to speak to the community. The community has decided the protest will not stop as they are waiting to see what the negotiations will bring forth. On Friday, 11 September we will meet with the mine again as per agreement today.”

Bosveld heard from business owners and residents in the villages who would like to stay anonymous, that as a result of these protests their children can’t go to school and they are unable to go to work. A business owner said he is unable to open his shop for the last week as they threatened to burn it down.

Mabe commented on the statement: “I emphasise again we want a speedy solution so that the children can go back to school and we condemn the criminal behaviour shown by some of the residents. Criminals should not see this protest as an opportunity to strike. As a community we have done all we can – it’s time for the mine to come to the table.

“We are disappointed in the the lack of response from our government, the only intervention we have seen from them is more police officers and even soldiers.

“It feels as if the government is at war with its own people”.

President Jacob Zuma said on SABC News on Tuesday night, good progress is being made to bring peace and stability in the mining industry which is still a key pillar of the economy and employs around half million people.

“Stakeholders agreed they will continue to encourage adherence by their respective constituencies to the commitments made in the framework agreement, including respect for the rule of law, denouncing violence and intimidation and ensuring that the industry remains sustainable into the future.

Zuma was speaking after a meeting held for the first time with mine bosses and trade unions, National Union of Mineworker (NUM), Association of mineworker and construction union (AMCU), United Association of South Africa (UASA) and Solidarity.

Percy Nketse, chairperson of the Mogalakwena Residents Assocciation (MRA), told Bosveld on Wednesday morning, “according to Zuma’s statement last night it is clear that he should come and visit Mogalakwena, where while they are having their meeting there is a protests against one of the county’s biggest platinum mines. H cannot turn a blind eye to this fact.”

He also said “the MRA is against any from of violence, but the protesters are responding to the brutality the police has enforced on them. For peace to be restored the mine should implement the Mining Charter and speak to the community and the police should be held accountable for all the damages.

“At Anglo American Platinum the wellbeing of the neighbouring communities and our employees is at the heart of our operations. We have been diligently engaging with local stakeholders to find a holistic solution to the issues that have been raised. We encourage peaceful conversations and are appealing to other structures that have not been part of the engagement to join so that we can find a solution as quickly and as peacefully as possible.

“We encourage our employees to use the internal channels to report any cases of threats or intimidation,” Mpumi Sithole, media and external relations manager at Anglo American Platinum, told Bosveld.

Bosveld was told on Wednesday Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Minister of Mineral Resources, is on his way to try and resolve the situation at the Mogalakwena mine.

The media was not allowed to sit in on the meeting and a statement will be send out that Bosveld will report on in the next issue.

Read more:

Mogalakwena mine CEO urges employees to return to work

Community leader warns that the mine protest is not yet over

Mogalakwena protest action spills over to N11