Mining community consultation
Makhotla Sefuli
Tutu Mokhothu
Matjhabeng local municipality
Free State Province
24th July 2022
#miningcommunityconsultation
The long awaited mining consultative meeting between the community of Matjhabeng and government did eventually take place in Welkom.The Ferdi Meyer hall was full to capacity,the meeting was arranged by the provincial government in collaboration with the Welkom Parliamentary constituency office.
Present at the meeting were a variety of stakeholders from across the community of Matjhabeng and beyond our borders.Thefollowing dignitaries graced the occasion with their presence:-
1.MEC for COGTA hon Mxolisi Dukwana
2.Mr Seeiso Mohai (MP)
3.Deputy minster of DMRE Dr Nobulao Nkabane
4.Deputy minister police Mr Cassel Mathale
5.Councillors and mayor of Matjhabeng
The Free State Goldfields is known for it’s large gold deposits,also being the economic hub and largest employer.
Government made a commitment on the following aspects in order to revitalise the economy of Welkom and the surrounding areas.
The mayor in his speech alluded that the Free State Goldfields used to employ over fifty thousand people through the mining sector and other subsidiary industries that depended on mining.With the rapid decline of the mining industry Matjhabeng has become a ghost and government had to come with a strategic intervention.
Mr Seeiso Mohai(MP) highlihgted the importance of making sure mining attention.
Small scale mining and Geo-science in order to address the rising and the possibility of other industries that may develop.
Matjhabeng needs 8 billion to fix the infrastructure yet currently the money available is only 3,8 billion.
There’s a serious shortage of water and this is to somewhat extent a direct result of acid mine drainage.
Illegal miners are also responsible for destroying infrastructure.
The deputy minister of DMRE,Dr Nobulao Nkabane urged the local office of the DMRE to be visible to the public and more particularly where there is mining since people say the Welkom office is useless. MPRDA must be introduced to the Free State in conjunction with mining.
The deputy minister was accompanied by an entourage of officials from stakeholders like
1.MINTEK
2.COUNCIL FOR GEOSCIENCE
Presentations were made on sharing of important information with the public, the following points were identified as beneficial to the public.
1.Opportunities for small business
2.Rehabilitation of derelict and ownerless mines.
3.Compensation of ex mine employees
4.Six thousand ownerless mines inherited by government
Government to deal decisively with illegal miners, people are going to be arrested.
Action plans from DMRE
1.Geo technical research on how much deposits of minerals available. Unravel and discover what minerals are still underground
2.Implement and enforce a policy on small scale mining and how they can be assisted.
3.Enviromental impact assesment to be undertaken before the mining license is issued.
4.Funds available to assist small scale miners
QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
1.What can the community do with the disposal of water from the mines
2.Launch investigation to revitalise mining towns about the mining towns about the money that is suspected to have been taken to help the community of Qwaqwa
3.Legislation on how to prevent the community to steal copper.
4.Where is the money from mining to local DMRE to help in case of rehabilitation
5.The issue of sub-contractors because it closes opportunities for graduates and practicals for engineering students
