Mining company takes over the grazing land, leaving farmers stranded.

Margret Molomo

Live Stock owners from Mokopane gaKgobudi we convened at the Kgobudi Tribla office by the Traditional Council and Ivanplat Mine representatives.

The meeting was concerning livestock that are grazing inside the fence of Ivanplat Mine. The mine said that as they are using communities’ grazing land for mining, they have bought a farm for the livestock to be kept there for grazing. One of the elders, who is also a livestock owner, asked the mine whether it was the first time they consulted with them or did they met with other livestock owners.  The mine indicated that it was not their initial meeting as they had consulted traditional leaders before and that did not sit well with the livestock owner.

The livestock owners were concerned as to who would be looking after their livestock at the farm that the mine bought and the fact that the proposed relocation of livestock to the farm would have financial implications on the owners as they would need to travel to the farm occasionally because they cannot leave their families and stay at the farm.

The livestock owners also have a problem with stock theft and they do not trust the mine with livestock. The livestock owners want the mine to compensate them for the loss of livestock and their grazing land.  The meeting did not end well and was postponed.