Protests in Tubatse continue
"We don't have anything in Maatadi, for eight months we did not have any water but we have a mine on our doorsteps," resident Mr Moses Mahloko said. Their houses' windows cracked and their livestock were recently killed due to the mine's occasional blasting.
GA MANYAKA – It seems like the community strikes in Tubatse will continue. On Monday July 27 another protest was witnessed at the entrance of Clapham Opencast Mine in Maatadi Village.
Residents demanded to be hired at the mine and accused management of taking the farms they used to plough for their maize meal.
“We don’t have anything in Maatadi, for eight months we did not have any water but we have a mine on our doorsteps,” resident Mr Moses Mahloko said. Their houses’ windows cracked and their livestock were recently killed due to the mine’s occasional blasting.
“Local businesses must be empowered by this mine. We are not sure if the mine is illegal or not, we will engage with the department of mineral resources to find out.”
The paper spoke to Kgoshi Mohlabane Manyaka who is part of management. Manyaka highlighted that they hired locals in all their departments at Clapham.
“We have a labour desk which deals with unemployment in our area. The protesters need to come to our offices and engage with the management and Makgosi. If positions exist, we will hire some of them.”
Manyaka outlined that as a community leader and also part of the mine he ensured there were services in his community.
“I previously ensured that the locals have water, currently we are building four classrooms at Mokwadibe High School, while 45 locals were also taken to skills-development initiatives, and I am paying fees for four people,” he added.
The chief said there were several projects he had earmarked for his community that included sponsoring soccer tourneys, building crèches and ensuring that locals were employed.
