I want to see change happening in my community

Moseamedi Molin

by Mosamedi Molin

I first noticed unfair treatment when the Bokoni Platinum Mine promised to take care of us communities (affected areas) when they reopened the mine. They had their first meeting with the community leaders, and they promised to hire the x-employees and also provide training for those who do not have the necessary qualifications. Till today, none of those promises have been made.

My envisioned change was to see things happening in our communities because mine damages many things e.g. they took our land where our stock used to graze and also that same land were people used to plow their products. Even last year they promised to buy our fields where they didn’t pay the owners of those fields, and now they don’t even want to talk about it. Sometimes, when the leaders ask to have a meeting with them; they refuse to meet with the leaders.

We tried our best by talking to them and also went to DMR for help Our community leaders also attended many meetings with them to hear our story, and even the media was called but it did not help, until last month when they started to retrench people more than 300 people lost their jobs and most of them are from our communities.

Attending meetings as an activist was very helpful, and I have learned a lot about the mining industry. I also learned to share my ideas, speak up, and share ideas with others. The role of the above-mentioned structures is to ensure that members of the community’s benefit on the land there staying in and also engage on other ongoing mining development such as Modikwa Mine and Nkwe Mine that are closed to us. Though the two mines are not mining in me village but part of our ward is directly affected (Mohlake and Hoepakrantz Village s). Though as I mentioned my village is not directly affected but in one way or another were suffering on the results of their existence.

Modikwa Mine is on operational level and makes a lot of money whereas we suffer the consequences. Our village is becoming dry, our life stocks, environment suffers due to that. Though it’s difficult but were still trying our best to fight for the rights of our people. Nkwe Mine is not yet on operation. It is on construction level but people of Mohlake are not recognized. Everything is happening behind their back. As I am speaking other villages such as
Komane and Hoepakrantz are given employment and business opportunities whereas people from Mohlake are abandoned.

What I see in the future regarding the Bokoni mine, it only destroys our lands, and also, we get nothing in return. This mining industry undermines the affected areas because every time the community tries to engage with them they refuse, even if they do meet up, they promise to provide jobs to the community but then they don’t do that. It could have been much better if the mine provided the affected areas with clinics, roads, and also jobs. So, I believe attending the meetings with you will help us with necessary tools to continue fighting
for our people.