GOVERNMENT DIRECTIVES REGARDING JAGERSFONTEIN DISASTER

Thabo Ishmael Choledi

The people of Itumeleng are very concerned about how things are handled in their community. Lack of transparency from the side of government is dividing the community. We are not consulted in any decision making and no public hearings are held.

We don’t know how decisions are made on our behalf, the mine continues to be reckless and the community is never consulted. Almost two years after the tailing disaster, the officials are doing as they please. We are still to know who should take the blame. 

I was a victim of the tragedy and also victimized for being an activist in the community. I have proof of how the mine has committed to helping the community, but a man called Bilankulu is busy telling people that the mine will only help them if they drop the lawsuit. I have the medical report to show how I was injured but he told me that I must first abandon my lawyer and encourage people to do the same. People who lost their houses are coerced into signing the documents that they will drop the lawsuit and abandon their lawyer. It is only after signing those documents that they will get help from the mine. 

We need serious intervention as the community of Itumeleng and Jagersfontein. We’re facing double victimization as both activists and residents. People are scared confused and scared 

Another issue that is of concern to us is the rise of illegal miners in our community, this has already claimed its first victims because people have died as a result. No one seems to notice how this is beginning to take shape in the community. The police and the government don’t seem to care about this problem. We conclude that the same government officials are enriching themselves through this illegal activity. 

Our government is full of cruel people who only care about their pockets rather than the lives of people in the communities. We were promised assistance in recovering the remains of the woman who was swept away by the mudslide when the tailing dam broke, but till today no one has ever come to us. 

We have lost confidence in our government as the people of Itumeleng and Jagersfontein in an election year.