From Flow to Drought: How Modikwe Mine Drained Our Livelihoods

Molamo Ngwtsedi

By: Ngwaketsi Molamo

From Flow to Drought: How Modikwe Mine Drained Our Livelihoods
Maila Mapitsane is a deep rural area surrounded by mountains, and the unemployment rate is at a
high peak. Though there are no mining activities in my area, a village called Hoepakrantz within our
ward has a mine called Modikwe. Hoepakrantz is a mountainous village. It’s about twenty kilometers
from my town, it is on the east side of Maila Mapitsane.
As I mentioned, we don’t have mining activities in my village, but this Modikwe Mine is affecting our
lives. Some years ago, before the existence of these mines, we relied on the rivers that came down
from Hoepakrantz village. We used water from the rivers for farming, for our livestock, and for other
activities such as washing clothes and other activities that need water. As I’m writing, we are no
longer able to do those activities because all our reliable rivers are dry.
This makes our lives more difficult, particularly for women, as they are the ones who were farming
to generate income and food to support their families. And most of the families here are run by
women because most men have left them with the kids. It is very difficult to support a family in such
situations.
That’s where this animal called " Gender Based Violence; came in. Most women become submissive
to men for survival, and as a result, most men take advantage of them. They become the tools of
these heartless men. Due to this, they believe it is the only way they can survive.
I once asked a beautiful lady, I quote; My dear sister, why are you allowing yourself to suffer that
much? Can’t you see that you are becoming a punching bag for this immoral guy you call your
boyfriend? This guy is going to kill you one day." She replied, He is the one taking care of me and
my children, it’s not like I’ve an option. If I had been working, I would have left him long ago. I’m not
working, my kids need something to eat and some clothes to wear at the end of the day.” “It’s
tough, my brother, but anyway, that’s life." She concluded.
What I’ve learned is that these women know the dangers they’re putting themselves in very well,
but because they think they are unable to support themselves due to the above-mentioned
problems brought by this mining company, they think they don’t have an option.
I think to fight this challenge, we need to teach our sisters that a good future or a good life does not
depend on a man. They need to change their mindset and use their minds and hands to build
themselves. There are so many projects that I believe if they give themselves time to collect
information, they’ll have more to work on and become independent. If they can be able to group

themselves, at least into five per group, and register a cooperative. Some of us will volunteer to
assist them in engaging with the mine companies and government departments, such as Land
Reform, Agriculture, SETA, and NYDA, for those still qualifying as youth, and assist them with funding
and other necessary training.
That’s the only way I think they can be independent, and that will assist them to make the sober
decisions in their life.