Unfenced quarries poses danger to residents
Previously a man disapperared in one of the quarries, even today he was never seen again.
GA MALEPE – Unfenced quarries, cracked walls in houses and high level of poverty are some of the problems experienced by residents in this area.
They are tired of three unfenced quarries that have been left open by Annesley Andalusite Mine, (Ga Mosela) of Rhino minerals.
The quarries had been readily accessible since the year 2000, according to the locals the mine used to blast at the three quarries situated a few kilometers from the village.
Mr Maebe Petrus Phakoago, a member of Tubatse community development forum and Tsheko Desmond Lekubu and a resident of the village said their livestock vanish daily in the abandoned quarries. “Over the past years a large number of animals have drowned, these include 26 goats, 78 cattle and more recently four calves died in the steep quarry,” said Lekubu.
Lekubu added, “ Apart from the water which contains chemicals, the quarry poses a danger to most people as there are sometimes huge rocks that fall. Previously a man disappeared in the quarry not to be seen again. “We have tried requesting fencing, since there are no warning signs but to no avail. The mine needs to compensate all residents whose livestock have died in the quarry,” he concluded..
The quarries are not the community’s only concern. Steelburger/Lydenburg News visited the poverty-stricken community last Sunday December 8 and residents complained about the mine not fulfilling its obligations agreed in the lease agreement (2007). This included compensation for the acquisition of shares.
According to the lease agreement (in possession of the paper) the mine promised to pay R300 000 every year for a period of 15 years to help in alleviating poverty in the mine’s surrounding areas.
Residents say, to this date, not a single project has been implemented. The local chief Kgoshigadi Malepe denied having received any money from the mine.
“I never received any cash from the mine to improve the community; I don’t want to be involved in all this. The community chose Phakoago to deal with their matters, not me.”
The newspaper also discovered that more than 50 homes have been damaged as a result of seismic shocks associated with blasting.
Some locals complained to this reporter that they were promised proper housing by the mine but were still waiting; others were homeless and forced to share rooms with relatives.
Mr Frans Majiane Malepe said he built two houses that disintegrated because of the cracks. “I had an eight-room house which cracked and almost caved in on my kids. The house you see is my third one, and it is cracking too,” he complained
Head of community projects and spokesman at Imerys Mr Xolisa Mvinjelwa’s phone rang unanswered. Steelburger/ Lydenburg News wrote an email to him on November 28, which he never responded.
Ntando Dlamini of Department of minerals said her office conducted inspection at the village and the findings would be issued to the media in due course.
The community have rubbished Dlamini’s reports insisting the department never set a foot in their village.
Mr Mike Malepe, a member of communication forum representing Ga Malepe community at Annesley mine, refused to answer questions directed to him, saying he is not the rightful person to answer all the questions.
When the paper contacted him again for further clarity, he slammed down the phone.
The community members say they will strive to engage with the board management in resolving the debacle.
