A GROUP of over 100 people took to the streets in Wentworth demanding that Engen prioritise residents for job opportunities. Carrying placards with messages demanding jobs from Engen, the marchers took to Tara Road on September 9.

The marchers claim that people as far as Limpopo are being employed by Engen while residents of Wentworth and surroundings remain unemployed.

In their memorandum, the marchers outlined the following demands:

• Community sidelining: The subcontractors seem to be ignoring the needs and concerns of the local communities, failing to provide adequate benefits or compensation for the impact of your operations.
• Lack of engagement: There appears to be a lack of meaningful engagement between the subcontractors and the fence-line communities, leading to misunderstandings and mistrust.
• Negative impact: The activities of the subcontractors are having a negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of community members, including environmental and health issues.

Also read: Suspected drug dealer nabbed in Wentworth

The marchers also demanded that a joint committee for Engen  be dismantled with immediate effect as it is not mandated by the community, nor do they speak on behalf of the greater community.

The residents urged the company to establish a clear plan for engaging with fence-line communities, including regular meetings, updates, and feedback mechanisms on a monthly basis with directors of subcontractors.

Suggestions from the community:

• Develop and implement programmes that benefit the local communities, such as job creation, skills training centre, SMME upliftment and mentoring, sports and infrastructure development.
• Monitor and Evaluate Subcontractor Performance: Regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of subcontractors to ensure they are meeting the required standards and respecting the rights of the communities.
• In good governance we request that Vivo (Engen Refinery) relook at their blacklisting policy which is hindering the workforce of employment opportunities as well as the police clearance policy.

A representative from Engen, Simlindele Manqina, accepted the memorandum. The company has been given an ultimatum of seven days to respond to a list of demands.

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