Agencies take jobless for a ride
This comes after rumours that Everest Mine on the outskirts of town, has reopened and is now looking for local labourers.
LYDENBURG – Bogus Facebook advertising and unauthorised “recruitment agencies” are taking advantage of desperate unemployed residents in the area.
This comes after rumours that Everest Mine on the outskirts of town, has reopened and is now looking for local labourers.
Northam Platinum announced in February that it had entered into a sale of assets agreement with Aquarius Platinum in terms of which Northam acquired the Everest Mining Assets and Everest mining right, for a total cash purchase consideration of R450 million.
Residents of Skhila and Mashishing, who wish to remain anonymous, told the newspaper that several meetings had taken place where “placement agencies” had misled people into believing that they were guaranteed a job at the mine if they signed up with the agency.
“Desperate residents are forking out up to R1 000 to be ‘registered’ on a bogus recruitment list. Locals are eager to be employed again after being left destitute when Everest closed down and was put on care and maintenance in 2012.
“So much so that they are paying these so-called recruitment agencies without considering the fact that they have no recruitment agreement with the mine.”
According to Mr Paul Makaba, human resources manager at Booysendal, the mine has noted that misinformation has been spread around in the area about the availability of jobs at the Booysendal South Mine (Everest).
“Mine management would like to advise that the Booysendal South Mine was mothballed by its previous owners in 2012. The new owners, Northam Platinum, have not yet started any process of recruiting people to work at Booysendal South.
“Nevertheless, feasibility studies are underway in order to determine the best way forward to extract value for all stakeholders at Booysendal South. These studies are still at an early stage and to date have not yet indicated how many potential job opportunities may be created.”
Makaba explained that management would, at an appropriate time, inform communities about any opportunities via a properly constituted stakeholder forum.
“Booysendal has not given anybody a mandate to initiate any recruitment process in the area,” says Makaba.
Any such activities should be reported to 082-603-4873 via SMS, or to 013-235-6900. Residents are urged to contact the police station on 013-235-1311 with information.
