Community members complaining about workshops being demolished
R97 million would be required to make the structures functional and safe.
Community members of Rietspruit are concerned after workshops which were supposed to be utilised for their benefit were demolished.
According to a community leader, Mr Joseph Nzimande, the workshops were allegedly demolished by South 32 mine, which is now Seriti.
He said: “The mine started in 1978 and closed down in 2002 in May. The mine promised that it will create sustainable projects for the employees who did not get space at some sister mines after employees were transferred. After Klipspruit was established in the Ogies area some employees were supposed to be taken in, but they were left behind, not taken at Klipspruit mine and everything was left unattended by the mine. Furthermore, the workshops left at the mine were supposed to be used by community members for their benefit, but now they are being demolished without any consultation with community members. Nothing is said by Seriti after taking over management.”
Nzimande further said at one point a private engineering company were using the workshops, but that company ended up being liquidated, and some of the company’s assets are still left in some workshops. He said they even tried engaging with the municipality and the department of mineral resources, but all that did not bear any positive results.
He said they were hoping that something might come out by using the workshops to the benefit of community members.
Mr Hulisani Rasivhaga spokesperson at Seriti in his response said while Seriti understands the plight and concerns that local communities have in respect of economic development opportunities, the allegations that have been raise, are not accurate.
“Rietspruit Mining Services was a 50/50 joint venture owned by South32 and Glencore that operated a coal mine until 2002. When Rietspruit Mine Services ceased mining operations and closed in 2002, the company took on as many employees as possible at other mines to minimise job losses. Seriti has since acquired some assets and liabilities associated with Rietspruit, including land and structures on this land. We understand that at the time of the closure, enterprise development initiatives involving former employees were established, but proved to be unsustainable over time. Like other infrastructure at Rietspruit, the workshops at the industrial park, have over time unfortunately been vandalised and stripped of most ‘useable’ components, thus rendering them unsafe and unfit for purpose,” said Mr Rasivhaga.
He added to say that in 2019, South32 SAEC (now Seriti) commissioned a study to determine the integrity of the structure and extent of repairs required to return them to a functional condition. The study indicated that:
An initial investment amount of R97 million would be required to make the structures functional and safe.
Many millions more would have been needed to secure the appropriate rezoning, as well as full replacement of the electricity infrastructure.
Further, additional maintenance would also be required for long term sustainability.
Importantly, the study indicated that to be sustainable, additional extensive and long-term investors would need to be found, but this initiative was not commercially viable and would therefore not be able to attract new investment.
Given these outcomes, which have been repeatedly communicated, and the fact that the structures continued to be a safety hazard to anyone entering them, Seriti took the decision to demolish the buildings. Seriti notified stakeholders on the tender process for the appointment of a provider to carry out the demolition in November 2021, and a service provider was subsequently appointed in February 2022.
“In response to concerns raised by stakeholders, engagements were held in March 2022 with community stakeholders, including local councillors, community representatives, the SAPS and the eMalahleni Local Municipality speaker’s office and the public participation officer. Nine community members have been employed by the successful contractor, and the appointed contractor is procuring some goods from local SMEs. Seriti has also informed the community that it is looking into the possibility that, once the demolition is complete and the site has been rehabilitated, it may provide opportunities for accessible agricultural land,” concluded Mr Rasivhaga.
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