Follow up round table
Makhotla Sefuli
Tutu Mokhothu
Matjhabeng Local Municipality
FREE STATE PROVINCE
26TH July 2022
#followuproundtable
The youth of Lejoeleputsoa embarked on peaceful march earlier this year in April. The aim of the march was to hand over the memorandum of grievances to the DMRE to highlight the ever rising youth unemployment.
As a follow up to the memorandum, what can be referred to as a round table consultation was convened by the regional manager DMRE. Present were representatives from from MACUA,GUBICO and Climate Justice Coalition.
What is of great concern from the community representatives is the arrogance and intransigent behaviour displayed by the DMRE.The first memorandum was handed last in September, followed by the one in April and the DMREIS only responding now.
The demands from the community to the DMRE were as follows:-
#Failure of DMRE to regulate and do oversight on SLP (Harmony)
#Incomplete projects and undelivered promises
#Tetra plant must go
#Artisinal miners to be legalised
#A new sustainable energy system to replace the current system based on dirty fossil fuels that only serve the elite
#Rehabilitation of the land ruined by mining
#The end of financing for coal and other fossil fuel investment including gas
#No to Eskom tariff hikes, no to loadshedding
#Renewable energy now
#SLP consultation separation
#DMRE tour in mining communities
The memorandum was received by the national office bearer from the DMRE but he didn’t get back to the community.The Welkom manager apologised on his behalf and took over the process.
The Welkom manager gave the ollowing replies to the memorandum.
*In case of registering the ASM, the region has no official employees to assist yet, but however they do have a vacant post for that purpose
*Mr Chrombi from the Welkom DMRE office promised to look for the answers in case of Eskom and loadshedding.
*Welkom DMRE office doesn’t have any lead or access in locating the owners of closed shafts for rehabilitaton.
