Ranaka residents worry over cracked houses

• Blame Ranaka Quarry JV mining company for damages • Demand compensation for cracked houses

Residents of Lokgwapheng ward in Ranaka are fighting tooth and nail to be compensated for cracks on their houses, claiming it is entirely the result of Ranaka Quarry JV mining company blasting impact.

The worried residents held a kgotla meeting to air their grievances over ground vibrations allegedly caused by the mining company during blasting of rocks from the nearby hill. They claim that the deafening sounds and earthquake-like vibrations caused walls of their houses to crack. When speaking to The Midweek Sun over the weekend, the desperate residents revealed that they reported the issue to President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi during his recent kgotla meeting in Moshupa. The elderly residents further revealed that whenever the blasting occurs on the hill, the houses tremble due to the vibrations caused by loud sound. They also complained that the community cemetery has been affected as well, leaving some tombstones out of place and others cracked. A 70-year-old Kenanao Motshwarateu revealed that the walls of her house began cracking in October this year, after they experienced the loudest blasting sound, more like an earthquake.

“The roof of my house was vibrating and trembling, the dust from the hill covered the entire yard,” she said. Motshwarateu also said that the dust was accompanied by a nasty smell of fire crackers. Ever since that day, she began observing large cracks on the walls of her house. “I am unemployed and I have a lot of grandchildren, if the whole house collapses, I have no idea where I will take my grandchildren,” she said. For the elderly resident, 74-year-old Solomon Sethokgolo, his contention is that the Mining company does not communicate whenever such blasting is scheduled. He believes that the company should notify residents that they will blast so that they expect the loud sounds. Currently, whenever it happens, it takes everyone by surprise, traumatising families and livestock. “I have also observed new cracks on the walls of my house, ever since October. We need compensation for the damages,” he said. Other residents, complain that the Quarry JV mining company has dug a large pit on the ground that traps water whenever it rains and they fear for the safety of their children and livestock. Another resident, 75-yearold Baby Otlaadisa, revealed that she has killed dangerous snakes inside her house, which entered the house through the large cracks. “I do not have a goat or a cow to sell to put my house in the good state it was in. Ranaka Quarry JV mining company should come and maintain the damages they caused to our houses,” Otlaadisa said.

Tirelo Seru (52) narrated that she was inside her house when she was almost killed by a brick falling from the wall of the house. “I was inside the house, after the last blasting a large brick fell from the wall and broke into pieces on the floor,” Seru said.

When asked about the grievances, Kgosi Moemedi Telekelo of Ranaka confirmed that indeed the villagers held a kgotla meeting recently complaining about the damage suspected to have been caused by Ouarry JV mining company.. “I have also taken the issue to some of the senior authorities, the district commissioner will be visiting residents soon, to check on them and assess damages caused to their properties,” Telekelo said.

The Ranaka Quarry JV mining company told The Midweek Sun that they never assessed all the houses before beginning the project, but believe some of the house might have had cracks before.

The manager, Mompati Rebatsile said they recently conducted a test, using Seismograph devices that detect ground motions and their devices proved that ground vibrations never reached the houses.

Rebatsile also said investigations on the matter are ongoing.