Indaba snub for Mantashe

Foundation withdraws invitation to address conference after arrest of rights lawyer

THE BENCH Marks Foundation has withdrawn its invitation to Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe to address its annual conference next month following the arrest of human rights lawyer Richard Spoor on Sunday.

The foundation is an organisation mandated by churches to monitor the conduct of multinational companies to ensure they respect human rights and protect the environment, and to ensure that profit-making is not conducted at the expense of other interest groups.

Spoor was arrested after Xolobeni community members disrupted a meeting convened by the Department of Mineral Resources under Mantashe to discuss the allocation of mining rights to an Australian company.

He was due to appear in the Mbizana Magistrate’s Court today, charged with inciting public violence.

Foundation executive director John Capel said that due to the arrest, they had no choice but to withdraw the invitation.

Spoor was arrested after attempting to ask Mantashe to withdraw more than 70 police officers who allegedly formed a wall when members of the Amadiba Crisis Committee in Bizana in the Eastern Cape tried to disrupt the meeting.

“I was grabbed and punched in the head, arrested and then taken to Mpisi police station, where I was charged with inciting public violence,” he said.“It is a serious charge.”

Spoor wants the National Prosecuting Authority to withdraw the charge.

He said he was disappointed with the department’s conduct in bringing Mantashe to address a meeting to decide on the awarding of mining rights to an Australian company.

According to him, the mining dispute dates back 12 years. He said the Amadiba Crisis Committee – which represents more than 70 families there – wants to know what would happen to their land, especially farming and grazing land, if they are moved.

Spoor said the community had been seeking answers for more than 12 years.

“The community has made numerous court applications to oppose the mining rights.

“There is a pending matter in the High Court in Pretoria. Judgment was reserved there in April.

“You can’t just call a meeting in a day and expect a final decision to be made,” Spoor said.

Department spokesperson Ayanda Shezi was not available for comment last night.