The group has been closing access roads to Phalaborwa in recent weeks and has demanded that the Ba-Phalaborwa Community Forum is disbanded. They also demanded that the mayor of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality (BPM), Merriam Malatji, and Abbey Ledwaba of Palabora Mining Company (PMC) be removed from their positions. Chairperson of the group, Edwin Malatji, accused the three parties of being corrupt and neglecting the needs of residents.

They handed the Mopani District Municipality (MDM) a memorandum of their grievances and demanded a response within seven working days. On Wednesday, June 13, MDM responded to the group; the group rejected it and again threatened to start an even bigger shutdown. MDM then again reached out to Malatji and his team requesting more time to resolve the issues raised.

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MDM’s executive mayor, Pule Shayi, has in the meantime conducted separate meetings with traditional leaders and senior management at local mines, including Ledwaba, Foskor’s James Morotoba, representatives from the KBH Group including the general manager, Pieter Jacobs. Meanwhile, the spokesperson of BaPhalaborwa Municipality, Jonas Mahesu said that the African National Congress (ANC) can only remove the mayor, not people in public positions when asked for a response to the group’s demands.

The Herald contacted the spokesperson for the ANC in Mopani, Peter Ngobeni. He said Shayi is still engaged in meetings and cannot comment if the party is contemplating removing Malatji. At the time of going to print on Tuesday, there was no outcome of an agreement between the parties.