Alleged nepotism causes unrest
On Wednesday residents embarked on a peaceful march to protest alleged nepotism at Nkomati Anthracite.
SIKHWAHLANE – According to march and community leader, Mr Confidence Thabethe, two newly appointed members of a committee responsible for ensuring that locals are employed on the mine, appointed four of their own family members.
“We want their appointments to be withdrawn because everyone is meant to benefit from job opportunities that arise at the mine. We are totally against nepotism,” Thabethe explained.
He furthermore alleged that according to the mine’s database, 53 locals were employed, however, according to their own records, there were only 21.
“In the memorandum which we have submitted today, we requested to be provided with the names, ID numbers, and addresses of all those who live in Sikhwahlane and work on the mine,” Thabethe added.
He said that there had been further attempts at nepotism by committee members with the release of eight vacancies, of which only four were publicly announced.
“Now we have demanded that all the vacancies be put on hold until all these issues are resolved. And in the meantime we have nine names of locals who are in need of work.”
Mine officials were not interested in receiving the memorandum from the demonstrators, and officials had to go in and explain what was happening.
The mine has been given 14 days to respond to the demands of the protesters.
