No ‘third coming’ for Mantashe, says Xolobeni anti-mining brigade

Xolobeni community members belonging to the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) have opposed mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe’s third attempt to visit the area over the ongoing mining project battle.

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After Mr Mantashe’s announcement on Tuesday last week that he planned to visit, ACC members said in a statement that he should not set foot in the area.

The minister had sent a letter to ACC lawyers inviting stakeholders to discuss economic development in Xolobeni at a meeting on January 16.

The ACC said its lawyers would meet with Mr Mantashe, but stressed that he would not be welcomed by the community.

In December, ACC banned Mr Mantashe from Xolobeni after it received his application for leave to appeal the court’s judgement for the community’s right to say no to mining in their area.

The High Court in Pretoria had ruled that in terms of the interim protection of informal land rights act, the minister of mineral resources may not grant mining rights without the consent of the community and the people directly affected by that mining right.

However, Mr Mantashe appealed this court ruling on December 13.

“Our lawyers have demanded the securities registers over shareholders in the Xolobeni mining project since June last year. The law says this should be given within 14 days. The Australian daughter company Transworld Energy and Minerals, Keysha Investment 178, Xolco and their accountants have refused to cooperate,” the ACC said.

“The official accountant of Xolco says he never heard of this company. Also, this will go to court. Those in the ANC who need to worry can worry. We appeal to all concerned about land and human rights to tell Gwede Mantashe to stop his ‘third coming’.”

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