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 Thursday February 11, 2010 03:10 by Anti-Privatisation Forum - APF
 Press Alert Sunday 7th February 2010 After a mass meeting in the Siyathemba stadium earlier today (with the assistance of APF organisers), residents of the community – grouped together in an organisation called Dipaleseng – have decided to march on, and shut down, the local Benstone Mine early tomorrow (Monday). RESIDENTS OF SIYATHEMBA IN BALFOUR (MPUMALANGA)VOW TO SHUT DOWN LOCAL BENSTONE MINE TOMORROW MORNINGRESIDENTS ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE MINE’S FAILURE TO ABIDE BY AGREEMENT WITH COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE A TRAINING CENTRE, INVEST IN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENSURE EMPLOYMENT OF LOCAL RESIDENTS. When the mine began operations five years ago it received permission from the community on the basis of an agreement that the mine would build and operate a skills training centre for community residents, ensure that at least 50% of its workforce was from the community and invest in local development initiatives. Despite repeated attempts to engage the mine management, including the delivering of a memo in July last year which outlined the initial agreement, the mine has failed to deliver on any aspect of the agreement. As if the constant problems with service delivery by local government have not been enough for the residents of Siyathemba, they are now sick and tired of the mine continuing to take advantage of their community and benefit from the mineral wealth of their land. The residents have vowed to shut down the mine until such time as the mine management agrees to sit down and engage in serious discussions to implement the initial agreement with the community. They will hold a night vigil before marching to the mine early tomorrow morning. FOR FURTHER COMMENT AND INFORMATION CONTACT DIPALESENG SPOKESPERSON, ZAKHELE ON 083 513-2420 |
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Jump To Comment: 1Since police forcibly prevented residents of Siyathemba (grouped under the Dipaleseng Residents Committee – DRC) from marching to the nearby Burnstone mine on Monday morning, the community has been in a state of low-intensity war with the police. With the assistance of APF organisers, the DRC had mobilised the community to confront the mine around broken agreements and promises related to training, employment and local development. However, once the police opened fire with stun grenades and rubber bullets (there was a report from our organisers of the use of live ammunition) to prevent the march from proceeding, all hell broke loose. Since then, there have been running battles between groups of residents and police. Very unfortunately, some residents whom the DRC has identified as criminals taking advantage of the situation, have attacked some foreign owned small businesses in the area and have also destroyed some public infrastructure serving the community. The APF condemns in the strongest terms this xenophobic and reactionary behaviour. Alongside the DRC, the APF holds the government – at all levels – directly responsible for the past and current situation in Siyathemba. The APF stands fully behind the legitimate structures and demands of the DRC as they continue to struggle for meaningful democracy and socio-economic development.