‘Police have rights too’
Two community members of Kgobudi village face charges of common assault, crimen injuria and obstruction of justice after, on 13 July, they visited the Mahwelereng Police Station to lay charges relating to the building of a storm water drain.
MOKOPANE – Villagers gathered at the station in protest of a drain to be constructed by Ivanplants Mine, which they say is illegal as the community was not consulted in this regard.
According to Shimane Kekana, community leader, the mine cannot construct storm water drains in the village without the community’s approval. This, he said, was in breach of the Mineral Petroleum and Development Resources Act. “They only notified us through letters,” he claimed.
When the community annd community leader, Aubrey Langa and Kekana went to the police station, Langa and another resident, Solomon Kwetsi were arrested and charges of common assault, crimen injuria and obstruction of justice brought against them by the police. Mahwelereng Police Spokesperson Constable Sello Lesso said, however, he was still unsure as to what unfolded, but an investigation was underway after Maj Justice Kekana opened charges against Langa and Kwetsi.
“I would like the community to know that policemen also have rights and that they are also human. The community and anyone entering the premises of any building or police station must adhere to the procedures that has to be followed.
“We would like to ask people to keep to those rules. As far as the incident I will keep the media up to date about the happenings in court.”
Meanwhile, Ivanplats Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Jeremy Michaels said the mine is within its rights to erect infrastructure such as fencing.
“Ivanplats is not constructing the drain at this stage. Only a fence is being installed in order to preserve the area as agreed with the Ga-Kgobudi Community in a formal Memorandum of Understanding, which also governs the compensation associated with the current works. The storm water drain development will not commence before the Environmental Authorisation Amendment application is approved by the relevant authorities. The installation of the permanent fence is a protective measure agreed with the community and should not be confused with the construction of the drain itself.”
