Protesters run riot at Atok

ATOK – Angry protesters torched Bokoni Platinum Mine equipment on Thursday morning.
They also set alight and looted a truck loaded with eggs.
Workers were also prevented from reporting for duty. Operations at the mine had been suspended two days before and a strong police presence was seen at its gates.
The unruly protesters said that since the mine started operating, the community had not yet benefited, despite the company’s pledge to comply with South Africa’s mining charter.
“Now we are demanding answers from Bokoni. They have to tell us what they did to improve the state of living in our villages. The problem is that the leadership of the mine is undermining us and taking us for granted,” said Mr Kgotlelelo Mohlala a community leader in the area.
“A certain recruitment agency is calling the shots at the mine. The locals are not working while the agency hires foreigners in our land,” he added.
The protesters alleged that the mine management at Bokoni had interests in tenders at the mine.
“You cannot be a player and a referee at the same time, how can you be a senior manager at Bokoni and still do business with the same mine? There are people in the communities that can acquire those tenders and by so doing hunger will be defeated,” they said.
The communities accused the mine of promoting divisions between the traditional leaders and communities.
They demanded an employment equity plan from the mine. The protesters reiterated they needed the mine to implement projects that will sustain their lives during the economic downturn as the mine is retrenching workers.
The protesters vowed to continue with their illegal actions until the Atlatsa management addresses their concerns.
On Wednesday, spokesperson of Apel Police Station, Const Kgofelo Tebele, encouraged road users to avoid the R37 and if possible to utilise the alternative routes.
“The protesters had been throwing stones at passing cars since Tuesday morning. We are currently investigating more than three cases of malicious damage to property. The public order police are currently stationed in the area to monitor the situation.”
Steelburger/Lydenburg News on Tuesday forwarded queries to Atlatsa’s head of investor relations, Ms Prudence Lebina, who telephonically promised to respond. At the time of going to press the newspaper had not yet received her comment..