Operations halted at Marula Platinum Mine
The community members blocked roads leading to the mine and threatened some of the miners who were eager to work. They also dug a trench on the gravel road, this led to most learners from locals schools failing to attend their classes. The local clinic was also not operating this morning as the staff were unable to report for duty
DRIEKOP – Angry community members from Seuwe and Diphale villages prevented Marula platinum mine’s workers from reporting for duty on the morning of April 11.The community members blocked roads leading to the mine and threatened some of the miners who were eager to work. They also dug a trench on the gravel road, this led to most learners from locals schools failing to attend their classes. The local clinic was also not operating this morning as the staff were unable to report for duty.The residents told the paper that the mine was sidelining them and hiring outsiders. The residents alleged that the local chiefs (Magoshi) in their villages sold jobs to the outsiders.“The Magoshi are the only people benefiting from the mine, they sell jobs and enrich themselves while we suffer.They also hire their cronies and families while accessing tenders at the mine.We demand to see the mine bosses, we want to tell them to stop hiring people at the tribal houses,” they said.
The residents complained about the lack of development in their communities insisting that they needed a tarred road. On Monday afternoon, the miners were still idling outside the mine premises with no production taking place. The situation is currently being monitored by the public order police. For more on this article grab a copy of the Steelburger/Lydenburg News
