Tenants believe that safety is not a priority

They have been silent for a while but not anymore. The community of Kendal which involves areas such as Khaya-Lethu, Olympic, Dladla omncane and Dladla omkhulu came out guns blazing following Ferret Coal’s way of doing business.

Leaders speaking on behalf of the above mentioned areas Joseph Zikhali, Vusi Mavuso and Lungelo Mntungwa claim the mine has not been operating accordingly. They have a long list of the things that do not please them namely being:

Crack’s in their homes due to the blasting of the mine, no job creation or skills development programs, they mine on top of people’s graves and most importantly, safety is not made a priority.

“Only in certain parts of the mine one can spot a fence but otherwise one can go in and out as they please without having to go through security. There are no safety booms. The hole is one of our biggest concerns as a boy has lost his life there. This area comprises people that have cattle, imagine if they fell inside. As a community we cannot go on like this,” said a concerned resident Zikhali.

Leaders representing Kendal community Joseph Zikhali, Vusi Mavuso and Lungelo Mntungwa point to a ‘hole’ found at Ferret Coal where Mthokozisi Shongwe lost his life in September.

The leaders claim they have contacted the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) who said they were investigating the matter and would revert to them in no time.

The leaders alleged that they had also contacted the mine about safety measures and other complaints before the death incident happened, but no one listened. In 2014 it is alleged that a couple of young children bridged the perimeter of the mine, went into the premises (despite warnings, signs, booms and trenches), and entered the premises with hunting dogs with the intention to hunt on the mine. This is where one of the boys fell into one of the mine’s rehabilitation dam where he drowned.

The mine assisted in the burial arrangements costs and the little soldier was laid to rest.
What made the community angry was why did they not do the same for the 19-year-old who also passed away in a ‘hole’ found at the mine? The mine said they could not pay the costs of the funeral arrangements.

“Why must one child be buried and the other not, how does it work exactly?” questioned Zikhali.

It is alleged that when Mthokozisi Shongwe died in September, he was being chased by attackers. The fight begun outside the mine’s premises. Mthokozisi apparently breached the security of the mine, went over the boom, the trench and fell down the high wall at an active mining area.

Miss Thobisile Shongwe who is the mother of the deceased says she was still shattered after almost two months since her son’s death. She described the 19-year-old as a bread-winner of the family. He became the first one out of his two other siblings who had a good job.

“He had been employed for only six months when this happened,” said Shongwe.

The mother’s pain was added on when the mine which she feels is partially responsible for her son’s death refused to meet her half way with the funeral arrangements.

“If there were fences and if safety measures were taken, my son would not have fallen into that ‘hole’. As for the burial part, a few years ago a child died in there but he was buried. Why wasn’t mine?” questioned Shongwe.

Chief Operations Officer, Mr Peet Erasmus said they did sit down with Shongwe together with the group’s Human Resources Manager Mr Hendry Nkuna where they explained to her why the mine could not assist with the costs to bury her son. He says the first incident was paid for out of the goodness of their hearts. It was not per company procedure as the child was not an employee who died on duty but they assisted anyway. In the second case, as in-humane as it might have been, they could not do it as they followed company procedure.

“It is unfortunate that we could not assist in Mthokozisi’s burial costs, bear in mind that the incident started outside our premises and we have also put up various important signs around the mine for people not to trespass in the private land but some ignore this. We explained all of this to the family at our meeting and they even agreed, we are surprised they are singing a different tune,” said Erasmus.

He added that even though it happened in the mine, how it happened has a huge impact.
The mine said they are of the opinion that they work under a safe environment as they allegedly boost a three tier security structure which one has to overcome before entering the private land.

“Warnings, security guards patrolling day and night, high booms and widened trenches are in place. It is our responsibility to do continuous maintenance and safety measures at all times,” said Erasmus.

He explains that the cracks at the houses could not have been cause by the mine as not one of them is located within the periphery that they were asked to vacate.

Furthermore they do not desecrate graves, what happened was when they were putting up a brand new fence marking off, one of the bakkies did leave a track there but that’s all. They do not mine on top of graves.
Mavuso raised the issue of limited opportunities the mine offers to its people saying management opts rather hire people from far where else people close by should be made first preference.

Erasmus explained that in terms of job creation the mine which was bought two and a half years ago became staffed according to its needs.

“We can only employ people on existing jobs, because we as a company can only hire if a person leaves or through disciplinary measures. We also do have general workers who are working with us and are part of the community,” explained Erasmus.

During meetings with the Local Economic Development team and other stakeholders as per agreement with the DMR they do from time to time invite community members to submit their CV’s that go to their Human Resources division. And when jobs are made available, they will be called in and employed, provided that they have the right skills and qualifications.

If they do not have the necessary skills the Local Skills Programme is designed to transfer skills and training to community members, whether after completing this they will be hired or not is uncertain.
Erasmus says despite the numerous meetings they have had with the community not one has come forth with all these allegations.

If there is anything they wish to discuss they must know their door is always open.

“We have engaged with the community leaders, both before and after the incident of the boy falling into the ‘hole’. We from time to time have meetings with the community leaders but none these concerns were raised. They can come forth, we have nothing to hide,” concluded Erasmus.

The Department of Mineral Resources did not reply by the time of going to press.

ALSO READ:
MNS residents complaining about a mine
Residents are sick and tired of mine blasts