WATCH: Drama at High Court where Liberty Coal seeks urgent interdict against Optimum protests
Liberty facing mounting community anger over stakeholder exclusion.
Scores of protesters have gathered outside the High Court in Middelburg, where Liberty Coal is seeking relief against ongoing protests which it claims are being orchestrated to destabilise operations at the Optimum mine.
The matter has been enrolled on the court roll for today, with legal representatives awaiting the presiding judge.
Hundreds of protesters are picketing in opposition to Liberty’s efforts to exclude community stakeholders from Optimum’s turnaround strategy.
Liberty appointed its affiliate, Liberty Mining Services, as the principal contractor at Optimum following its separation from Salaria late last year.
@middelburgobserver Community members gathered outside the Middelburg High Court on Monday as Liberty Coal applied for an urgent court interdict to halt ongoing protests at Optimum Mine and other Liberty Coal properties. The mining company alleges that the demonstrations are being orchestrated by former mining partners. The matter is expected to be heard later today.
The community is being supported outside court by members of both the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African National Congress (ANC).
Municipal Manager Mandla Mnguni has also been served with papers in the matter.
The community says Liberty disbanded the community stakeholders forum without any consultation, resulting in the backlash.
Further details are available in this week’s Observer.
