This comes after the organisation, led by Edwin Malatji, closed down the R71 road including the Lulekani and Makhushane crossing on Wednesday, March 31. According to Malatji, through the shutdown they want to pressure the BaPhalaborwa Community Forum (BCF) to be disbanded. The concerned group believes that BCF no longer puts the needs of the community first. BCF is a civil rights organisation that represents the community’s needs and assists residents to secure employment

The group also demands that the mayor of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, Merriam Malatji, and Palabora Mining Company’s (PMC) Abby Ledwaba are removed from their positions. “We believe that Malatji and Ledwaba are corrupt and are working together, as most of the tenders are awarded to PMC,” he alleged. “We have reason to believe that the two are also running BCF, as BCF no longer puts the community’s interests first,” he explained.

Also read: Concerned group to conduct another march against BCF

On the morning of Thursday, June 1, most residents were unable to go to work and school because the roads were blocked with branches, rocks and bricks. Malatji and his entourage handed over a memorandum to the Mopani District Municipality and demanded a response within seven working days. “I want to emphasise that if we get a negative response, and by that I mean if Malatji and Ledwaba are still in their positions and BCF is not disbanded, we will do a bigger total shutdown than we have ever done, and that is a promise,” he said.

At the time of going to print the Herald did not get a response from the BCF, the municipality, or PMC
regarding the shutdown. The Herald will follow up on this developing story as it
unfolds.