HUNDREDS of the Mpukunyoni community members, at KwaSomkhele staged a protest march to Tendele Coal Mine on Monday to present a memorandum of grievances to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR).
Lead by the chairperson of the Mpukunyoni Community Property Association (MCPA) Bongani Pearce, the members undertook the protest march to voice their anger at the mine, saying they want to benefit from the mining activities taking place on their doorstep.
‘We want economic freedom in our lifetime, and if there are no tangible benefits, then there will be no mine,’ Pearce said.
Toy-toying at the mine plant entrance, the members constantly shouted #Tendele Coal Mine Must Close.
Reading out the list of demands from the memorandum presented to the DMR, Pearce said the Mpukunyoni community want their personal ties to the area acknowledged, and stop Tendele from exploiting the vulnerable and poor community members who cannot stand up for themselves.
‘Our gathering here today is to make a mark and condemn in the strongest terms the exploitation of the community resources for the benefit of the few,’ Pearce continued.
Among their demands, were that job opportunities be given to the local people; re-employment of all those fired without proper hearing procedures; capital goods, consumables and services to be procured from the local suppliers; compensation for cracked houses and for grazing land; for livestock dying inside the mine; for water usage; and for those who have become sick owing to coal dust problems.
Mine management responds
Responding to the protest march, Human Resource Manager Davie Coetzee wrote ‘On 4 July the MCPA organised an unprotected march to Somkhele Mine gate, where they proceeded to hand a memorandum to a DMR representative in the presence of 100 to 120 people, many of whom were bussed in from areas away from the mine.
‘The unions representing more than 900 mine employees are also not in favour of the MCPA’s objectives to close the mine, as this infringes on their constitutional rights, bearing in mind 80% of the mine’s workforce are local Mpukunyoni residents.
‘Somkhele mine has been operating in the area since 2007, and directly employs in excess of 900 people. Since inception we have invested directly and indirectly R933-million into the community in salaries to employees from the local community (R580m), infrastructure and relocation (R90m), procurement from local entrepreneurs only (R208m) and SLP projects (R55m).
‘The mine is making an enormous difference in the community, and will continue to do so. Our doors remain open to engage with all interested and affected parties.’
The community gave the DMR 14 days to respond to their demands, failing which they will approach the High Court to withdraw all the mine’s operating permits.
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