Grassvelly Chrome mine operation in a privately owned property
MPHO TJALE
Grassvelly Mining Operations is a privately owned property in Mokopane that is 12 KM from Mokopane CBD, and 17 km from Sekgakgapeng Extention 14, 19, and 20. Communities are denied access to the mine as they are being told that the mining operation is a privately owned development and that it does not have any involvement of the community, and they are forever dismissed by the liaison officer whom I can not mention his name, The concerns that are being raised by the community members mostly are nepotism, noncompliance with social labor plan. They are not even sure if such a document of SLP exists.
Community members are being told that the mine is not operational yet but to their surprise, they see trucks with Mpumalanga registration transporting Chrome but they are not sure where is the Chrome transported to. An anonymous person who transports employees to and from the mine stated that the main contractor, A4G is victimizing their employees and that they are not allowed to join the workers’s Union.
Two shop stewards were suspended after questioning managers since they were forced to work 30 minutes before their stipulated time stated in their employment contract. They underwent a hearing and awaiting for verdict from the committee and the presiding officer who was presiding over the hearing, the suspension of two shop stewards instilled fear in employees as none of them were willing to be elected as shop stewards.
There are safety precautions measures that are not taken into consideration for employees who work at the mine, 1st Employees are requested to bring their drinking water from their respective homes and there are only 4 toilets for more than 90 employees which are hardly cleaned.
The Department of Minerals and Energy must intervene on this matter and inform the mine that the mining operation can not be private as it is regulated by MPRDA and that they can not operate without obtaining a social license from communities that are within a 50 km radius.
The mine is also in contravention of section 23(2)a and section 23(2)b of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the department of Labour needs to be engaged to address this matter as there is an element of arrogance from the managers.
