Somkhele communities demand new houses
Tendele Mining Ltd is in talks with two Somkhele communities whose protest on Tuesday highlighted some issues.
IN a bid to make their demands heard, two communities in the Somkhele area prevented three trucks from leaving Somkhele mine on Tuesday and forced the drivers to drop their coal loads on the road.
The incident occurred at about 5am when members of the KwaLuslanga and Machibini communities blocked the junction where Somkhele mine entrance/exit meets the R618.
According to a community spokesperson, one of the communities living in close proximity to the mine, and continually falling victim to the mine’s blasting effects, wants mine owners Tendele Mining Ltd to relocate them away from the mine and build them new houses.
The other community, which has already been relocated, wants the mine to build them a crèche and better houses than they currently have.
The community members blocked the road with branches and debris, which were still visible to passersby shortly before 6am.
Police officers from KwaMsane attended the scene and arrested one protestor for assaulting a police officer.
According to KwaMsane SAPS Communications Officer, Captain Mdletshe, Somkhele mine workers who live in KwaMsane failed to turn up for work on Tuesday night for fear of their safety.
It has been reported that the members of the protesting communities do not want KwaMsane residents working at Somkhele mine.
At the time of going to print, management at Tendele Mining Ltd were still in talks with the relevant communities.
