Mining is a crime; the mine has taken the land.

Moshabi Selowa

By: Moshabi Selowa

Mining is a crime; the mine has taken the land.

Monametse is one of the richest communities in minerals, comparable to the G7. Minerals like
Platinum, Chrome, Copper, and other popular minerals. Early last year, in September, Bokoni
Platinum Mine opened another shaft on top of our mountain. The mine created boundaries which
prevented access to the route across the mountain, which was another alternative way to Tjibeng
Village, and we no longer use this alternative way. There is a long, strong fence that is erected from
The Braamfontein shaft across the mountain; they only left our rivers aside, though they are not safe
because of the mine blasts.
Women used to fetch wood to support their families by chopping wood and selling it., Too much
land is destroyed by the mine, including our natural herbs. The worst part is they are at the very
same spots where chrome was mined illegally in 2018-19, and the mine was against that. The
residents experience problems with the high unemployment rate, and the community is
disorganized (divide and rule); there is a lack of grazing land for our livestock.
The real intent of the Bokoni platinum mine is felt when they start operations in the community.
They exclude the community; this time around, no slogan of Nothing with us without us. The
community is divided by small business owners who are opportunists who force to adopt the
community members, and use them to fight against others in business due to starvation or greed.
Some community members had jobs, but are now retrenched, which increases too much pressure
and disaster on the pensioners, as the cost of living is high.
To my understanding, the only way to survive as the mine-affected communities, we must apply the
Use of law enforcement to benefit our communities.
The time is now; let us build a case for affected communities.