Peace negotiated after weeks of violent protests

BURGERSFORT – After numerous attempts to get the relevent role players around the negotiation table failed, a meeting was held on Wednesday in Pretoria that seems to have restored peace in the protest-hit Steelpoort and Burgersfort areas.

Cllr Ephraim Hlatshwayo, spokesman for the communities, said yesterday the community representatives and mining company representatives came to various agreements. These stemmed from grievences the communities and mine employees had put to the mines concerning the mines’ role in and relationship with the communities.

The protest actions have plagued the areas for the past weeks with many incidents of arson, damage to property, looting and other violent acts reported.

At the time of going to press, peace had returned to Ga-Mampuru, Phasha and Tukakgomo. Comment from the mines were not available at the time of going to press.

The violence reignited on Wednesday August 5 when the communities stated that they would continue to protest until their demands were met by the mining companies.

An agreement was reached on July 22 that the local mines would employ the sons and daughters of the soil. the residents also wanted the local mines to develop their communities, that recruitment agencies would be disbanded and to centralise offices where job opportunities would be posted before advertising, that a task team would deal with mining squabbles including mine management, communities and members from the Department of Mineral Resources, that all mining companies which attended the meeting employed 500 locals in the coming three months.

During the meeting Hlatshwayo told the mine managers that employees who were affected by the strike and therefore failed to report to work should receive their full salaries and added that those who had been fired for going AWOL had to be reinstated.

The affected mines are Glencore, Samancor Eatern Chrome, Booysendal Platinum, Two Rivers Platinum, Dwarsrivier Chrome and Sylvania Chrome.

The meeting ended on a positive note with the mine managers stating, “We agree to work closely with the communities of Steelpoort.

According to sources, the mines failed to implement most of the agreements at the meeting on July 22 and the protest started again after mine companies allegedly enforced the no-work, no-pay principle on employees who were unable to report to duty due to the protest actions three weeks ago.

Tyres were burnt again last Wednesday on the R555, near the D2484 turn-off. The local police station deployed personnel in armoured vehicles and Nyalas to the scene. According to eyewitnesses, the SAPS fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Last Thursday a bus was set alight in Malekane where passengers were injured and had to be rushed to Dilokong Hospital. The first mass meeting arranged by the residents was held last Thursday at Ga-Mampuru Village at 16:00 to address this issue, but no resolution was reached.

By Friday August 7 the strike turned violent as protesters made their way to Burgersfort. On their way on the R37, they damaged businesses and vehicles, vandalised and robbed a store in Twin City Shopping Centre and harassed pedestrians in Burgersfort.

The protesters gathered in front of the municipality in Dirk Winterbach Street. Police were on the scene and a SAPS helicopter hovered over the area. Many Burgersfort and Steelpoort businesses closed their doors. According to sources, again no resolution was reached due to mine representatives not pitching for the meeting. On Saturday the strike calmed down and all roads were cleared.

On Sunday morning people were out in full force again, blocking Mashishi, Eerstegeluk Bridge, the R555 and the steel bridge. Police were on the scene and without any serious incidents all the roads were cleared and the protesters dispersed. Sources reported that taxi drivers became violent and shots were fired on the R555 to Ohrigstad. Const Kholofelo Phokane, spokesman for Ohrigstad police, has confirmed that taxi fights took place on Sunday, but no one was injured.

A community meeting was scheduled for 17:00 on Sunday, but was postponed to 16:00 on Monday at the Malekana Sport Grounds, next to the steel bridge. By Monday all roads were clear and the local police were standing by to monitor the meeting. Monday’s gathering also had a negative outcome as mine representatives failed to attend it yet again.

On Monday at 15:00 communities were gathering next to the R37 to Polokwane and protests continued.

Another meeting was planned on Tuesday at GTM. Once again, the mine companies failed to attend the gathering.

The strike was suspended for 24 hours as the communities were waiting for the mayor’s response as well as the time, date and venue for the new meeting. The protesters were escorted back to their communities by police.

On Wednesday protesters rescinded the agreement to suspend the strike and tyres and a truck were set alight on the R555.

Mr Thabiso Mokoena, GTM spokesman, confirmed that another meeting took place on Wednesday in Pretoria. Members who attended included mining companies, 50 community representatives, Mamekoa and Ramathlodi. Steelburger/Lydenburg News called Mokoena around 15:00, but he confirmed that the parties were still discussing various issues. On Wednesday night protesters continued to cause havoc on the R555. Mining companies sent messages to employees to confirm that, if everything had returned to normal on Thursday, they could return to work.

Hlatshwayo confirmed on Thursday morning that all agreements had been reached between mining companies and communities.

“Employees who were unable to report to work due to the strike will receive their full payment. A task team comprising mine management, communities and members of the Department of Mineral Resources has been established to deal with mining squabbles.”

Hlatshwayo added that the violent strike by Ga-Mampuru, Phasha and Tukakgomo residents has come to an abrupt end. Citizens can safely use the roads again around Tubatse and normal work procedures will continue in Steelpoort.

Mr Thabiso Mokoena concluded that everything would return to normal, as agreement was reached during Wednesday’s meeting.