PHAABORWA – Phalaborwa came to a standstill when community members under the umbrella of the Ba-Phalaborwa Community Forum (BCF) conducted a protest recently.

Protesters blocked the R71 roads in Namakgale, Lulekani, and other parts leading to town. They used trees, branches, and stones to block the roads.

The demonstrations prevented commuters, learners, and community members from going to school, work, and reaching their destinations.

‘Community frustrated about employment’

BCF chairperson McDuff Mathebula said community members were frustrated about the issue of employment, which is why they decided to take to the streets to show their dissatisfaction.

He said the community is frustrated with BCF stakeholders – the companies doing business in Phalaborwa in the mining, tourism, rail, and other sectors.

2014 agreement not being honoured

According to Mathebula, the companies are deviating from an agreement negotiated between BCF and stakeholders in 2014, when BCF was established.

The agreement stated that for non-skilled employment, companies would hire only locals, and would only consider outside people for skilled work.

He says the companies are no longer living up to that agreement. They are employing people from outside the community for non-skilled labour vacancies.

Demand for community liaison officers

BCF is also demanding that companies employ community liaison officers from BCF in all companies to work with HR and procurement departments.

Mathebula believes this will help them monitor the hiring process at these companies.

BCF denies involvement in violence

However, Mathebula denies BCF’s involvement in the violence and says the community members themselves decided to protest.

Police clear the roads

The protest ended after Public Order Police were deployed to the scene, where they cleared the roads.

No arrests made

According to Constable Kgomotso Hlokwe, no one was arrested during the protest.