A group of protesting job-seekers forced the executive mayor of Emalahleni, Cllr Salome Sithole, to flee from a radio station after being trapped on the premises of the municipality.
She was unharmed but traumatised by the event.
The group of protesters said the mayor lied at the radio station and her statement angered them. They said a meeting with the mayor was scheduled for 10:00, but only took place at 13:00 after they allegedly stormed the council chamber.
The group was mainly protesting that the mines should be held accountable to employ more local people. Other issues raised were: learnerships, skills development, student bursaries, housing allocation, tendering in the mines, SMMEs and the mines’ procurement processes and their databases.
“We were surprised that she was in a meeting with councillors and mine representatives discussing our issues without us. She deliberately applied delaying tactics, after that she went on air talking about issues without our mandate. She was hijacking the whole process and wanting all the glory. This is about us and the mine representative, she is only acting as a mediate.”
The group further said they are not fighting with councillors and are not political motivated but their concern is the welfare of the people of eMalahleni.
After the drama at the radio station on Monday, city administrator Mr Theo Van Vuuren arrived and addressed the people.
He said in a meeting facilitated by the municipality on Monday the mentioned issues were raised.
Van Vuuren said that community members indicated their frustration that these issues are not receiving attention.
For three days KwaGuqa was engulfed in fire as some members of the community were protesting.
On Thursday morning, August 7 some people woke up to find that main roads were blocked with burning tyres and rocks and some were prevented from going to work.
Busses carrying workers were prevented from entering and leaving the area. Some workers were ready for work, but stood in groups on street corners waiting for their transport. A bus and two taxis were also stoned.
At the entrance from Ferrobank’s side, protesters had a running battle with the police as they demonstrated and blocked the road. Rubber bullets were fired and protesters fled the scene.
On Friday at about 02:00 the crowd regrouped and blocked the road as the previous day. Four rooms at a hostel in Ackerville were allegedly burned by the group and a hostel dweller was assaulted.
The community indicated their frustration that their issues are not receiving attention, resulting in local people not sufficiently empowered and employed.
“We need the mines to recognise that there are different categories of people within our community, skilled and non-skilled. The mines must come out clear about how they hope to develop skills of our people. Presently they employ about 30% and outsource 70% – we want to change that. They need to employ 70% local people and outsource 30%. They need also to come out clear about their social development plan and their social labour plan. We need transparency about their plans. We need transparency on how they spend their budget on community projects.”
The group wants to have representatives on mine recruitment committees, who should report back to community forums.
“A process of engagement with the mines and other industries has been agreed upon in principle to seek joint sustainable solutions to issues raised. However the events of last night (Monday night at the radio station) show that there is a high level of frustration on these issues making the process going forward difficult. However, the municipality and mines have committed themselves to continue working towards a solution,” said Van Vuuren.
“The police are on standby and will act as may be required. Everyone is cautioned to be on the alert and to be careful. I have also withdrawn municipal teams from the area and we are experiencing backlogs been formed on electricity, water and waste issues as a result. The matter has been escalated to the highest levels for support to be resolved. For those affected by these events please remain calm and be assured that as municipality we will try to work out a solution for both short and the longer term issues at stake,” said Van Vuuren.
Police reported that two vehicles were reportedly damaged and two foreign shops were looted and damaged.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) also responded to the unrest.
“It has come to the attention of the DA that the violent protests in Ackerville, that took place on Thursday and Friday are as a result of the community allegedly being unhappy over recruitment processes in the greater Witbank mining area.
“Furthermore, it is alleged that a group called ‘the Concerned Group’ convened a meeting during the past few days wherein the decision to blockade all main access roads in Ackerville was taken. This matter has unfortunately led to unruly protests and at 04:00 all entrance and exit routes to Ackerville were blocked, rubbish bins upended and tyres burnt in the streets.
“It is unfortunate that as a result of this protest, violence was threatened and people were prevented from reaching their place of work. People have the right to strike, but violence cannot be tolerated. In the face of the current unemployment rate, job losses cannot be tolerated.
“The DA would like to commend the SAPS on their swift action in attending to this unfortunate incident. We trust that they will keep up with their strong vigilance in this area.”
It is a right call in fact the whole Emalahleni, should stand up on its fits and fight for future of our youth and our children. Look at the state of Witbank today as say what are you proud of? We are the leaders in drugs, nepotism, corruption, unemployment, non service delivery, alcohol abuse, and crime. What are these mines doing for our communities?
How are we going to afford those abnormal electricity bills if people are not working.Something must be done to rehabilitate EMALAHLENI and that is inevitable. Our people shall once again enjoy/benefit being surrounded by mines and industries instead of being perished.
what happening in eMalahleni,It a thing which was suppose to be done long time a go, mines are making billions while people houses are being damage by the dynamites, we are the youth with good results from grade 12,But there are no bursaries while mines are making billions,unemployment rates are hi,people needs to be skilled by those mines and needs to be hired.
Hello people there am at ezinambeni am watch the protestors all Ext 11 :12 :14: more
15:08:2014 ,4:46am
my Question is how do you differentiate if some with a green barcoded ID if he/she was born @ Witbank or that particular person is from Middelburg ,Hendrina ,Ogies Or verena for that Matter . we are all one ANC one country
Our people perish because of the lack of knowledge.
Fellow residents of Wtb are damaging the city, yet they expect it to look beautiful. Let’s get into detail. I get the point that mines don’t want to employ stakeholders. But the same stakeholders are ignorant. A few years back they were protesting, saying foreigners are taking their jobs. What else did they do about it? A few months later they built garages and some even took their cars out of garages just to offer the Somalian guys a great renting deal.
In down town we have lots of foreigners taking our S.African money. What are our citizens doing? Nothing.
Ezinambeni we have every street filled with foreigners. Our people are sleeping. Some of them sleep standing by the street corners, doing nothing else. The next thing they’ll do is to just strike and strike the whole week.
I’m pretty sure that 50% of those people who were protesting were just doing it for the sake of it. They don’t really deserve the jobs they are protesting for.
To our people: Please protest for what you deserve. You’re seeking for what you’re not good at. If you had the guts to face the truth and the officials of mines, you wouldn’t be stopping us from going to school. What’s being done shows immaturity, to me. It shows lack of knowledge. It shows me we don’t have brave people in Wtb. Go out there and protest near the mines’ gates. And take away the businesses from the foreigners, because that’s what you want.
I was hijacked by this protesters at N4 opposite highveld steel,a big rock was thrown at my car,I was forced to get out and run leave my car there. This is no longer a protest about jobs,its crime and we being terrorized by our own people,I was born in witbank.today I’m scared to go outside.my car is car was recovered by SAPS and tracker,it was stoned and doesn’t drive at the moment.this people must stop this violence or the government must take necessary step to end this violence