Speaking during the event, Alpheus Valakati, ANC branch chairman said the aim of the meeting was to update the affected stakeholders on the future of Lily Mine and Galaxy Gold Reefs Mine (formerly Agnes Mine).

The feedback meeting was a follow-up on the previous one, which was held at the same venue in May this year.
In that meeting Cosatu announced that the families of the three Lily Mine victims and 87 mine workers who were trapped underground were finally compensated.

In last week’s meeting, Solly Phetoe, national Cosatu deputy general secretary, Joseph Moletsesie deputy NUM president and Valakati first had a meeting with Lily Mine management and later addressed the community and the employees.

Valakati reminded the community that the struggle was not over and the ANC was prepared to help them fight unemployment and make sure that the three Lily Mine victims are retrieved from underground.
The ANC teamed up with the Congress of South African Trade Union (Cosatu) and the National Union of Mine Workers (Num), called a joint-community, mine-workers mass meeting at Thusong Service Centre in Louisville last Tuesday.

Speaking during the event, Alpheus Valakati, ANC branch chairman said the aim of the meeting was to update the affected stakeholders on the future of Lily Mine and Galaxy Gold Reefs Mine (formerly Agnes Mine).
The feedback meeting was a follow-up on the previous one, which was held at the same venue in May this year.
In that meeting Cosatu announced that the families of the three Lily Mine victims and 87 mine workers who were trapped underground were finally compensated.

In last week’s meeting, Solly Phetoe, national Cosatu deputy general secretary, Joseph Moletsesie deputy NUM president and Valakati first had a meeting with Lily Mine management and later addressed the community and the employees.

Valakati reminded the community that the struggle was not over and the ANC was prepared to help them fight unemployment and make sure that the three Lily Mine victims are retrieved from underground.
“Stick to where you get water and don’t allow yourself to be deceived or misled by other forces. We praise NUM and Cosatu for engaging the mine management and instantly bringing the feedback to the people. It is starting to yield good results,” said Valakati.

According to Phetoe, the talks with the Canadian investors is at an advanced stage.
“The Canadian investors company is listed in the London Stock Exchange and has a mine in Botswana. Hopefully, it will sign the agreement very soon. There are critical issues which need to be addressed before the commencement of the operation. The retrieving of the three bodies trapped in the mine will go together with the operation whereby local community and former employees will be prioritised for employment,” said Phetoe.

He said they also learnt that there were at least 18 people who have not received their compensation due to missing ID numbers, banking details and contact numbers.
“We have agreed with management that they will soon get it. They will possibly receive it between next week and the second week of August if they can submit the missing documents,” he said.